Cowboys, DeMarcus Lawrence Not Close To Extension

With two days to go until the franchise-tag deadline, the Cowboys have not made any progress on a DeMarcus Lawrence deal. Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweets that the two sides are not close to finalizing a long-term deal. Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star Telegram echoes that sentiment, noting that a deal isn’t expected by the March 5th deadline “barring [an] unexpected miracle offer.”

Unless the Cowboys are willing to risk Lawrence reaching unrestricted free agency, the team’s only logical course is to slap the defensive end with the franchise tag. As Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com points out, this may be Lawrence’s preferred route. After being tagged in 2018, Lawrence would earn $20.56MM if he was tagged for a second-straight season. His franchise number in 2020 would balloon to $29.6MM, meaning Lawrence would technically be eyeing $50MM over the next two years.

Ultimately, Florio opines that the Pro Bowler could be seeking a deal that pays him close to that amount of money through the first two years of the contract. If he doesn’t sign a deal, he’ll either earn a lucrative franchise tag in 2020 or he’ll finally hit unrestricted free agency. Lawrence could also follow Le’Veon Bell and sit out the entire 2019 campaign, although that probably wouldn’t increase his worth.

Further complicating matters is Lawrence’s impending shoulder surgery. Florio writes that the 26-year-old refuses to have the operation until he’s inked a long-term deal. This could merely be leverage by Lawrence’s camp to get a deal completed before the July 15 deadline, but it complicates matters nonetheless.

In 2017, Lawrence compiled 14.5 sacks, 58 total tackles, and four forced fumbles. Instead of doing a long-term deal last year, the Cowboys asked him to prove himself once more. He answered with 10.5 sacks, 39 quarterback pressures, and a second consecutive Pro Bowl nod.

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