The deadline for the usage of the franchise tag is quickly approaching that is set to be passed on Tuesday afternoon. This has pushed the attention toward several different teams in the league with players in line to receive that designation prior to the start of the free agency period.
One of which is the Dallas Cowboys involving star defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence wrapping up his rookie four-year, $5.5 million deal. According to Todd Archer of ESPN, the Cowboys are expected to place the franchise tag on the 25-year-old that will make him one of the highest-paid players at his position.
“Unable to reach a deal on a long-term contract, the Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, guaranteeing him roughly $17 million for 2018, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.”
The decision put this designation onto Lawrence solely comes due to the two sides being unable to work out a new deal ahead of the March deadline. There had been a growing expectation that the Cowboys would go this route due to the Pro Bowler's desire to ink a lucrative multi-year deal with an average annual salary of at least $17 million.
Lawrence is hoping to cash in on his breakout 2017 season where he posted a career-high 14.5 sacks to earn him his first Pro Bowl selection and an All-Pro Second Team nod. He was also tied for second in the NFL in sacks, and his 79 total pressures were the third-most in the NFL, 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.
The use of the franchise tag could provide the Cowboys with an extended window to work out a long-term deal before the July 16 deadline. It will also allow them to sort through the free agency period first to determine whether they have the financial means to agree to a major contract extension with Lawrence at this time. This at least keeps him in Dallas through the 2018 campaign.
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