Selected in the second round (34th overall) of the 2014 draft out of Boise State, DeMarcus Lawrence came to Dallas as a decorated collegiate pass rusher. A two-time First-Team All-MWC selection, the athletic edge defender broke his foot during his first training camp, delaying his debut until midseason. He quickly made up for lost time in the playoffs, securing a game-clinching fumble recovery against Detroit to announce his presence as a big-game playmaker.

After flashing starter potential with an 8.0-sack campaign in 2015, "Tank" unleashed his full breakout in 2017. Armed with an explosive bull-rush, relentless motor, and elite hand combat, Lawrence terrorized opposing backfields to the tune of 14.5 sacks, finishing tied for second in the NFL and placing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He proved that peak was no fluke in 2018, backing it up with 10.5 sacks to earn his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod and secure a lucrative long-term extension as the anchor of Dallas's defensive front.

What separated Lawrence from pure speed rushers was his exceptional, dirty-work impact in the run game. Consistently setting a hard edge, setting up twists for teammates, and blowing up plays before they could turn the corner, he developed into one of the most complete, two-way defensive ends in football. Even as Micah Parsons arrived to share the pass-rushing spotlight, Lawrence remained the vocal heartbeat of the unit, earning two additional Pro Bowl nods in 2022 and 2023.

Lawrence became a free agent in March 2025 and signed a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks, ending his decade in Big D. He quickly proved his value by helping their top-ranked defense and won his first Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LX.  As a Cowboy, he had 61.5 sacks, 450 combined tackles, 93 tackles for loss, 21 forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns.