FRISCO, Texas -- DeMarcus Lawrence's surgically-repaired shoulder is feeling great. For the first time in two years, the Dallas Cowboys defensive end has complete range of motion and the strength is almost completely back.

Two weeks ago, Lawrence was activated from the physically unable to perform list and went through individual drills in full pads. Last week, he took team drills for the first time, so he will enter Sunday's season opener against the New York Giants (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox) without any preseason action.

"This my sixth year," Lawrence said. "I've played a lot, so I should know what I'm preparing for mentally and physically."

Lawrence does not have the uncertainty of playing in the final year of his contract or the apprehension of securing a mega-contract in the future, either. But now he enters the season with the burden of producing after signing a five-year, $105 million deal that included Cowboys' records for guaranteed money ($65 million) and average per year ($21 million) a few days before he had the shoulder surgery in April.

"Every year you're supposed to get harder anyway," Lawrence said. "The game is going to get harder, but D-Law is going to be harder."

The Cowboys signed Lawrence to such a lucrative deal because he put up 25 sacks and back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in 2017 and 2018. Last season, he became the first Cowboy with consecutive double-digit sack seasons since DeMarcus Ware did it in 2011 and 2012.

If there is anyone who can relate to what Lawrence will go through this season, it is Ware.

In 2009, Ware signed a six-year, $78 million contract extension that included a then-franchise record $40 million in guaranteed money. By the time he signed that deal, he had 57.5 career sacks, including a team-record 20 in 2008, in the first 70 games of his career.

"I remember before the contract, I would say I got double-teamed and after the contract I got triple-teamed with the money. With that, solidifying yourself as a team leader, as that guy, you have a bigger bullseye on you now," Ware said. "And he's going to really realize that. That it's not just about him performing. It's him teaching everybody else how to perform to take the pressure off of him so he can get out there and do what he needs to do. That's when the true leadership comes in."

Ware sustained success despite the extra attention. Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli was with Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice in Tampa Bay and Julius Peppers in Chicago as they maintained yearly success despite the extra attention they would get each week.

"Sapp, he loved it. Rice, he loved it. Peppers, he loved it," Marinelli said. "They couldn't get enough of it. [Lawrence is] the same guy. He loves football, he loves competing."

As a player, coach Jason Garrett was around Hall of Famers Charles Haley with the Cowboys and Michael Strahan with the Giants. As a coach, he was around Hall of Famer Jason Taylor with the Miami Dolphins and Ware, a soon-to-be Hall of Famer with the Cowboys.

"The best pass-rushers I have been around have relentless spirit and motor," Garrett said. "They have tremendous ability and get-off. They have elusiveness, moves, acceleration. All those things are really important traits for a pass-rusher. But the best ones are just relentless."

Lawrence accomplished everything in 2017 and '18 with a torn labrum. He wore a harness to help with the stability, but at times the pain would require him to take quick breaks. Ever since the shoulder surgery, Lawrence has diligently worked at his rehab so much so that Garrett said Lawrence was way ahead of schedule.

"It really wasn't about how ready the arm was going to be," Lawrence said. "I know I'm ready mentally and physically. You only need one arm to beat two."

The goal was always to be ready to play the Giants in Week 1. In his career, Lawrence has sacked only Kirk Cousins more than he has Eli Manning (3.5).

"Now is not the time to turn the shuttle off. It's time to rocket a little bit," Ware said. "It's trying to really shoot for the stars and he's one of those guys that's going to be able to lead the team because they're going to look at him for that leadership. He's that cornerstone, that anchor on that defense that everybody knows and on the team. So it's a lot of weight on him. When you get that big contract that solidifies you as 'I etched my name in stone with the star,' but what are you going to do with it? Let's make that thing shine this year."