The Cowboys have until mid-July to hammer out a long-term extension with DeMarcus Lawrence. If not, he’ll play out the year on the one-year, $17.143MM franchise tag. Other players might worry about that lack of security, but that’s fine with the defensive end. 
“It really doesn’t matter,” Lawrence said this week (via Jon Machota of the Dallas News). “If I do my thing, I put up my stats and I help my team win, they ain’t got no choice but to sign me. That’s how I feel.”
Lawrence, who turned 26 this spring, had 14.5 sacks in 2017. That total was the most by a Cowboys player since another DeMarcus – DeMarcus Ware – had 19 in 2011. The Cowboys also notched 38 sacks as a team, giving them their highest total overall since ’11.
Lawrence was a big reason for the Cowboys’ success against opposing quarterbacks and they ideally would like to keep him in the long term. However, agent David Canter is believed to be seeking a deal that will at least match that of fellow client Olivier Vernon. In 2016, Vernon signed the largest deal in NFL history for a defensive end when he inked a five-year, $85MM deal with the Giants.
The advanced metrics also underscored Lawrence’s dominance in 2017. Last year, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 ranked edge rusher, putting him behind only Cameron Jordan and Von Miller.
As shown on Roster Resource, the Cowboys project to start Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford at defensive end with Brian Price and Maliek Collins in the middle. Defensive ends David Irving, 2017 first-round pick Taco Charlton, and free agent addition Kony Ealy are also ticketed for significant playing time at DE and that group could be strengthened even further if Randy Gregory is cleared to play in 2018.
I can’t see Tyrone Crawford playing at DE. I think Kony Ealy will get more time than Crawford. Do not count out the rookie Armstrong out of Kansas St. who is an “edge” kind of guy. Taco is a bust all over, and Gregory is a big “if” because of his drug addiction. Irving is a mental case, and won’t be with the Cowboys next season. If Lawrence’s agent wants the same contract for his “other” client Vernon Olivier, Jones will balk and say bye bye.
Couldn’t agree more. This guy needs to prove last season wasn’t a flash in the pan because prior to that he looked like a bust. Do it next year and then (and only then) talk long term with this guy.
Of course he will. 17 mil is what he should get for 2 years. Certain positions the franchise tag is great. No matter what you are getting paid more then your contract would pay you
They will tag him again next year and then send him on his way. No long term commitment.