In a move that many did not think would happen, but a move all the same that rattled the NFL world, Micah Parsons' trade out of Dallas to the Green Bay Packers overshadowed another Cowboys offseason departure: DeMarcus Lawrence. The Seattle Seahawks should feel fortunate.
Granted, Lawrence's departure from Dallas for Seattle in free agency happened earlier in the summer, whereas Parsons' departure happened much later. Still, even when Lawrence signed with the Seahawks, it wasn't one of the top offseason signings it maybe should have been.
Quietly, Lawrence is having one of the best seasons of his 12-year NFL career, but not because of the numbers. No, Lawrence is having one of his best seasons solely because of his impact, which has helped Seattle's defense become a league powerhouse.
Lawrence has played a significant role. More than a decade into his career, have we come to the point where we ask: Is Lawrence a future Hall of Fame candidate?
A lengthy Seahawks tenure could push DeMarcus Lawrence into future Hall of Fame consideration
Again, this year is not about the numbers for Lawrence, because, in reality, he's had much better years with the Cowboys. Through 14 weeks, Lawrence has tallied just 13 tackles and 18 more assists. Additionally, he has five sacks, surpassing his sack totals from the last two seasons (three and four).
There is obviously more time for Lawrence to increase his numbers with five games remaining in the season. Still, unless he goes berserk in that time, Lawrence is on pace to finish the season with one of the lowest statistical seasons of his career.
All that said, however, again, it's not the numbers that shine brightest for Lawrence this season, but his presence and impact on the field. Lawrence has always been a massive presence on the defense, from his time in Dallas to now, in Seattle.
For almost his entire 11-year career with the Cowboys, he was a stalwart leader and one of the toughest defensive players on the team, and Dallas has had a handful of phenomenal defensive players over the past ten years.
If you've watched Lawrence at all this season, that toughness has never vanished, and while he is a polished veteran by now, he still plays as he did in his prime. So, the NFL Hall of Fame — is that in Lawrence's future? Has he done enough to play his way in? Or is he on the edge, and a couple more productive seasons with the Seahawks will be the pathway to a golden jacket?
Lawrence is closer to the end of his career, and given that his impact is still as loud as ever, Seattle might be the best place for him to cement a potential Hall of Fame case. If his career ended today, though, or even at the end of this current season, Lawrence would likely not be under consideration.
To date, Lawrence has accumulated the following in 152 NFL games played: 481 tackles, 66.5 sacks, 142 QB hits, 22 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and four touchdowns (two of them coming this season with the Seahawks). Lawrence has also made the Pro Bowl four times and an All-Pro Team once.
While these numbers are respectable, they're not necessarily HOF-worthy numbers, at least not first-ballot worthy. However, the catch is that Lawrence is doing something with the Seahawks that the Cowboys likely did not expect, which is why they decided to let him walk.
To think that the Cowboys' defense couldn't feed off of what Lawrence is doing this year would be a little crazy, especially after trading Parsons away. Had they traded Parsons a lot earlier (which they probably should have), would they have moved to re-sign Lawrence? Well, it's no longer an issue because it doesn't matter.
Lawrence is on a three-year deal with Seattle. So far, they're getting what they've paid for. What Lawrence has to do is keep this same level of impact and productivity up for two more seasons, and who knows, his Hall of Fame chances could significantly increase. Or, the opposite could happen, and Lawrence could take a step or two back next season, it will be his 13th, after all.
Nevertheless, the here and now is the Seahawks marching toward the playoffs, and their defense has shown they can match up against any offense. Lawrence has been a massive part of that defense, and hopefully his impact will continue into the postseason, when the Seahawks will need their defense the most.