We heard several days ago that negotiations between the Cowboys and franchise-tagged pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence are at an impasse, and the circumstances behind that impasse are the stuff that offseason drama is made of.
Lawrence, who willingly played out the 2018 season under the franchise tag, does not want to go year-to-year anymore, and he has made it abundantly clear that he wants a long-term deal. The Cowboys are happy to give it to him, but they do not value Lawrence’s skill-set quite as highly as Lawrence himself does. Dallas reportedly would give Lawrence a contract that would make him the highest-paid 4-3 defensive end in football, which would mean an AAV of over $18MM, but Lawrence is seeking a pact that would pay him at least $22.5MM per year (of course, if Lawrence were to sign his franchise tender, he would earn over $20.5MM this year and be eligible for free agency again in 2020).
In fairness to the Cowboys, Lawrence is simply not worth that kind of commitment. The market for premium players in the NFL is reset each time a new extension is signed, so if Player X signs a $100MM pact in August, Player Y, who is good but perhaps not as good as Player X, could very well land a $110MM deal in September. But sometimes, the gulf between Player X and Player Y does not justify that type of raise.
Aaron Donald‘s contract with the Rams, which he signed just last August, pays him $22.5MM per year. Lawrence is not the kind of game-changing talent that Donald is, nor is he as impactful as Khalil Mack, who signed a $23.5MM/year deal right after Donald got his payday. To be sure, Lawrence is an excellent player, but he is just not on the same level.
Further complicating the issue is that Lawrence is trying to leverage the shoulder surgery that he needs in order to continue playing into the type of contract that he wants. Lawrence wants to wait to have the surgery, which carries a four-month recovery period, until he gets his extension, and the Cowboys obviously don’t want to play along with that plan. If Lawrence wants to be ready for the start of the 2019 season, he would have to go under the knife by early May at the latest, and if he postpones the procedure, he may only be hurting himself in the long run.
We would like to know from our readers how you think this saga will play out. The safe money in these types of scenarios is always on the two sides reaching an accord, but that does not always happen. Theoretically, the Cowboys could give Lawrence permission to seek a contract with another club and then trade him to that club if he reaches an agreement, but it is difficult to imagine another team being willing to meet Lawrence’s contract demands and cough up draft compensation to acquire the soon-to-be 27-year-old.
If Lawrence refuses to come to the table, the Cowboys could rescind the franchise tag, which would make Lawrence an unrestricted free agent. But at that point, the market may not be as robust as he would like it to be, especially if he has not had the surgery yet. He could end up having to settle for a one-year pact for less than he would have earned under the franchise tag.
The guess here is that Lawrence and the Cowboys agree to terms on a multiyear pact that will pay Lawrence about $19MM per season, and that the agreement will come in the next few weeks so that Lawrence will be ready to go come September. It appears that Dallas has the leverage, but the club obviously does not want to risk losing a key player while also creating animosity in the locker room and alienating future free agents.
But what do you think the team should do, and what do you think will ultimately happen? Let us know in the comments section.
Jerry has always loved offensive stars more than D’s. He may as well keep the cash for EE, Dak, & the WR.
Shows up in mid-July to sign the franchise tender. Once signed, he immediately opts for shoulder surgery. Putting him back just shy of midseason to show teams he is healthy for 2020.
Hopefully trade him for a 1st & 3rd.
Strikes me as the type of guy that mails it in after he gets his long term deal.
No team gives up that much
Mack got 2 1sts. While Lawrence isn’t the player Mack is, 1st & 3rd is fair value. 2020 1st, 2019 3rd.
Lawrence still has to undergo surgery for a torn labrum and is also holding out for a Donald/Mack-level contract. He’s a headache. I don’t think he’d even get a 1st right now.
I loved to see him wait to long to get surgery. Then cowboys take the tag off him and there is no market for a player who needs surgery. And he has to play for way less then 29 mil. He knows he can’t hold AD or macks jock. He will never take over a game like watt or AD or mack or Reggie white.
Why do players not play on the tag? Guaranteed 20 million and they say no?
Furthermore, I love Tank but he is not worth 20+ Million annually. Dallas May have to cut bait with him.
Because if he gets hurt then when he becomes a free agent next year will get way less the 19mil. I believe thats why they dont like to sign the tag.
Look at what Trey Flowers got 5/90, 40M guaranteed at signing 56M total. If you think you could get a similar deal if not better why risk playing for 20M?
The two tags for Lawerence are in that neighborhood. 2018’s tagged paid him $17m, & 2019’s is $20.5M. $37.5m for 2 years is good pay. The difference between the 2 players for guaranteed money is $18.8, but minus 3 years. Dallas is offering plenty.
My point exactly. Well said.
5/100. Done in two weeks.
Dallas should entertain trade offers with teams picking high in the draft that would be willing to give D Law the contract he wants. This draft is loaded with top edge talent. It would save Dallas alot of money that they can put into their other stars, like Zeke, Dak, Cooper, Smith and Jones and possibly get a Bosa, Sweat, Josh Allen, etc
They’re not getting a high draft pick
Let’s be realistic. Dallas moves to 5 years and he signs or they trade and get a late 2nd and 4th. New team gives Tank $21 a year.
Random uneducated guest, say they work trade with Indy.
Not happening in Indy
Trade him or take back the tag and let him walk.