Prior to the season there were two areas I felt we could not sustain another suspension — linebacker and defensive end. Randy Gregory has already continued where he started during his career at Nebraska. Gregory is already in stage 3, so another failed test would knock him out for 10 games.
DeMarcus Lawrence is now in the same boat. Lawrence’s 4-game suspension indicates he was already in stage 2 of the NFL drug substance abuse protocol, meaning he failed a previous drug test and was levied a 4-game fine.
Apparently D-Law has had some sort of history while at Boise State:
DeMarcus Lawrence had 3 one-game suspensions in 2 years at Boise State for unspecified violations of team rules before Cowboys drafted him.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) April 20, 2016
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I’m beginning to seriously wonder if Will McClay is making the right decisions for this team, at the minimum is his work overrated? We seem to be bringing in a lot of these types of players, and it’s become a pattern and detriment to the team. If you can’t play due to suspension, you’re hurting the team. We’re seeing it with Randy Gregory, Rolando McClain, Greg Hardy, and now DeMarcus Lawrence. For the second consecutive year we’re going to be starting the season with backups trying to get to the QB. This is very disappointing.
How does this affect the draft?
I think with the Eagles moving up to #2 to draft a QB, this wipes out the opportunity of the Cowboys drafting Jared Goff or Carson Wentz. Furthermore, the pressure may be amped up for the Cowboys to go ahead and take Joey Bosa. This team needs a J.J. Watt defensive lineman in the worst way. Right now, we’re adding the same types of guys, with the same types of priorities and it’s hurting our chances even before the season starts.
So, if I’m Dallas I’m looking at a pass rusher at #4 or further down the 1st round if you can find a trade partner and snag Noah Spence or Shaq Lawson. The other option would be to take Zeke Elliot and hope the offense can just be too much for opposing defenses from keeping up with the Cowboys firepower. If the Cowboys feel they can have a someone decent defense for 4 weeks, then Elliot could be the pick.
In the end, the pick is probably defensive line though, it simply needs a lot of help.
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