Earlier this week, the Dallas Cowboys made the decision to place the franchise tag on rising star defensive end Demarcus Lawrence to keep him under contract at least through the 2018 season. This has shifted the entire outlook on the situation with a much grander view of his future in Dallas.

Lawrence is set to earn roughly $17 million next season under the franchise tag, which will make him one of the highest-paid players in the league at his position. According to Jane Slater of The NFL Network, the 25-year-old voiced that he believes this designation could be his opportunity to earn a lucrative deal next offseason.

Although the two sides have until July 16 to work out a new extension, Lawrence has come to the realization that he could very well be playing under the franchise tag next season. The contract negotiation process has yet to progress far enough in the right direction as he is aiming toward hold an average annual salary around $17 million on his next deal.

The franchise tag valued at $17.1 million is a significant step up from his rookie four-year, $5.5 million contract that he has just wrapped up. A commitment to that type of deal would require the Cowboys to hold a strong belief that he is one of the top defensive ends in the league.

Lawrence certainly put that on display after a break out 2017 campaign in which he recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks that earned him his first Pro Bowl selection and a Second-Team All-Pro. He finished tied for second in the NFL in sacks and his 79 total pressures were the third-most in the football land, according to Pro Football Focus. Lawrence is also just the third player in franchise history to record at least 14.0 sacks in a single season, joining DeMarcus Ware and Jim Jeffcoat.

If he is unable to garner a new lucrative contract before the deadline over this offseason, Lawrence appears to be more than prepared to prove this past season wasn't just a flash in a pan.