Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence has emerged as one of the NFL's most feared pass rushers the last two seasons.
The Cowboys were able to franchise tag Lawrence in 2018 after his fantastic 2017 campaign in which he accounted for 14.5 sacks. Lawrence was able to have yer another double-digit sack season as he had 10.5 during this past season.
Now that Lawrence was able to maintain his success two seasons in a row he is slated to be the most sought after defensive end in 2019's free agent market. If the Cowboys don't wish to give Lawrence the deal, he desires he could be amongst the league's highest-paid defensive players with another team. One thing is for sure, Lawrence will not be playing the 2019 season under the franchise tag again.
Article Continues BelowLawrence (shoulder) is unwilling to sign a second consecutive franchise tender, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports.
The Cowboys would be wise to offer Lawrence a contract he deserves especially since he was a huge part of the team's success in 2018. The defense was finally able to play at a competitive level with the help of the team's young linebackers, and Lawrence is not the contributor on defense anymore. Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith in addition to Lawrence can provide a fantastic foundation for a Cowboys defense that has struggled mightily in recent years.
The young core the defense currently possesses with players like Byron Jones, Vander Esch, and Smith carries a lot of promise for the foreseeable future. Since Lawrence is only 26 years old, he could play at an elite level for years to come and be a part of a team poised to play at the top of the NFC East for years to come.