Last week Dallas executive VP Stephen Jones said that pass rusher Demarcus Lawrence won't be going anywhere. (He hasn't been nearly as definitive about Dez Bryant.) Dallas has until March 6 to franchise Lawrence, if they're unable to work out a long-term deal. Jones' words suggest they'll do just that.
Dallas had 38 sacks last year, ranking 15th. Not elite, but it would be a lot worse without Lawrence. His 15 sacks accounted for 38 percent of the team's total. Last year only Chandler Jones accounted for a larger percentage of his team's sacks.
Over the last 10 years, 29 players have accounted for at least 38 percent of their team's sacks, so roughly three per season. Sixty-eight have accounted for at least a third. They're shown below, with 2017's representatives in bold.
SACKS, PERCENT OF TEAM (2008-2017) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Ind | Team | Pct |
2014 | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 20.5 | 38 | 53.9% |
2008 | James Harrison, Pitt. | 16.0 | 30 | 53.3% |
2008 | Julius Peppers, Car. | 14.5 | 28 | 51.8% |
2008 | John Abraham, Atl. | 16.5 | 32 | 51.6% |
2012 | Aldon Smith, S.F. | 19.5 | 38 | 51.3% |
2014 | Justin Houston, K.C. | 22.0 | 46 | 47.8% |
2012 | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 20.5 | 44 | 46.6% |
2013 | Robert Mathis, Ind. | 19.5 | 42 | 46.4% |
2011 | DeMarcus Ware, Dall. | 19.5 | 42 | 46.4% |
2017 | Chandler Jones, Ariz. | 17.0 | 37 | 45.9% |
2016 | Vic Beasley, Atl. | 15.5 | 34 | 45.6% |
2008 | DeMarcus Ware, Dall. | 20.0 | 45 | 44.4% |
2010 | DeMarcus Ware, Dall. | 15.5 | 35 | 44.3% |
2016 | Khalil Mack, Oak. | 11.0 | 25 | 44.0% |
2011 | Jared Allen, Minn. | 22.0 | 50 | 44.0% |
2008 | Joey Porter, Mia. | 17.5 | 40 | 43.8% |
2009 | Elvis Dumervil, Den. | 17.0 | 39 | 43.6% |
2010 | John Abraham, Atl. | 13.0 | 31 | 41.9% |
2011 | Tamba Hali, K.C. | 12.0 | 29 | 41.4% |
2015 | Robert Ayers, NYG | 9.5 | 23 | 41.3% |
2010 | Terrell Suggs, Balt. | 11.0 | 27 | 40.7% |
2014 | Carlos Dunlap, Cin. | 8.0 | 20 | 40.0% |
2009 | Dwight Freeney, Ind. | 13.5 | 34 | 39.7% |
2015 | Khalil Mack, Oak. | 15.0 | 38 | 39.5% |
2015 | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 17.5 | 45 | 38.9% |
2009 | Tamba Hali, K.C. | 8.5 | 22 | 38.6% |
2008 | LaMarr Woodley, Pitt. | 11.5 | 30 | 38.3% |
2017 | Demarcus Lawrence, Dall. | 14.5 | 38 | 38.2% |
2008 | Gaines Adams, T.B. | 6.5 | 17 | 38.2% |
2010 | Tamba Hali, K.C. | 14.5 | 39 | 37.2% |
2009 | Will Smith, N.O. | 13.0 | 35 | 37.1% |
2010 | Charles Johnson, Car. | 11.5 | 31 | 37.1% |
2012 | Justin Houston, K.C. | 10.0 | 27 | 37.0% |
2010 | Robert Mathis, Ind. | 11.0 | 30 | 36.7% |
2014 | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 13.5 | 37 | 36.5% |
2011 | Jason Babin, Phil. | 18.0 | 50 | 36.0% |
2010 | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 14.0 | 39 | 35.9% |
2013 | Robert Quinn, St.L. | 19.0 | 53 | 35.8% |
2012 | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 15.0 | 42 | 35.7% |
2016 | Dee Ford, K.C. | 10.0 | 28 | 35.7% |
2012 | Von Miller, Den. | 18.5 | 52 | 35.6% |
2010 | Jared Allen, Minn. | 11.0 | 31 | 35.5% |
2014 | Paul Kruger, Clev. | 11.0 | 31 | 35.5% |
2008 | Bobby McCray, N.O. | 6.0 | 17 | 35.3% |
2010 | Carlos Dunlap, Cin. | 9.5 | 27 | 35.2% |
2017 | Everson Griffen, Minn. | 13.0 | 37 | 35.1% |
2017 | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 10.5 | 30 | 35.0% |
2016 | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 11.5 | 33 | 34.8% |
2014 | Elvis Dumervil, Balt. | 17.0 | 49 | 34.7% |
2015 | Ezekiel Ansah, Det. | 14.5 | 42 | 34.5% |
2012 | John Abraham, Atl. | 10.0 | 29 | 34.5% |
2011 | Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG | 16.5 | 48 | 34.4% |
2011 | Antwan Barnes, S.D. | 11.0 | 32 | 34.4% |
2008 | Justin Tuck, NYG | 12.0 | 35 | 34.3% |
2017 | Ezekiel Ansah, Det. | 12.0 | 35 | 34.3% |
2014 | Von Miller, Den. | 14.0 | 41 | 34.1% |
2017 | Khalil Mack, Oak. | 10.5 | 31 | 33.9% |
2009 | Julius Peppers, Car. | 10.5 | 31 | 33.9% |
2012 | DeMarcus Ware, Dall. | 11.5 | 34 | 33.8% |
2012 | Michael Bennett, T.B. | 9.0 | 27 | 33.3% |
2011 | Chris Clemons, Sea. | 11.0 | 33 | 33.3% |
2011 | Aldon Smith, S.F. | 14.0 | 42 | 33.3% |
2008 | Darren Howard, Phil. | 10.0 | 30 | 33.3% |
2011 | Chris Long, St.L. | 13.0 | 39 | 33.3% |
2012 | Tamba Hali, K.C. | 9.0 | 27 | 33.3% |
2016 | Erik Walden, Ind. | 11.0 | 33 | 33.3% |
2010 | Dwight Freeney, Ind. | 10.0 | 30 | 33.3% |
2011 | Julius Peppers, Chi. | 11.0 | 33 | 33.3% |
Much rarer are players accounting for half of their team's sacks; there were five of those in the last 10 years. J.J. Watt, back in 2014, is the most recent, though Justin Houston was close that season, and Vic Beasley and Khalil Mack each fell just a couple of sacks short in 2016.
--Andy Richardson