The Dallas Cowboys have every intention of bringing back DeMarcus Lawrence and the star pass rusher indeed hopes to continue his career playing with America's Team.
But the specter of Lawrence's foray into free agency complicates matters, especially considering he already played last season on the franchise tag and has expressed no desire in doing so again.
Recent reports have indicated that the five-year pro will hold out of offseason activities if Dallas franchises him again, and could potentially miss regular season games.
What's left for the Cowboys to do before free agency officially begins next month, then? Offer Lawrence a long-term contract that reflects his standing as one of the game's most disruptive defenders, of course, a step to which he alluded on twitter on Tuesday.
Franchised —-> Pro Bowl——-> Your move @dallascowboys 🤷🏿♂️ https://t.co/NbZU44k82G
— DeMarcus Lawrence (@TankLawrence) January 25, 2019
The 27-year-old is reportedly seeking a multi-year contract that would pay him upwards of $20 million annually.
In response to being tagged before last season, Lawrence looked at the bright side, insisting it gave him the “opportunity to really break the bank next year” as a free agent, lending further credence to the possibility he's prepared to sit out for an extended period unless granted a lucrative long-term deal.
Lawrence followed up a breakout 2017 campaign with another strong performance last season. He finished with 10.5 sacks, leading his team by a significant margin, and also contributed a career-high 64 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles.
The two-time Pro Bowler, still just 26, figures to enjoy several more seasons as a true impact player before enduring the inevitable ill-effects of age and wear and tear.
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