Dallas Cowboys: Will DeMarcus Lawrence be on the roster in 2018?
By Carl Daley
In the final year of his rookie contract, what will the Dallas Cowboys do with defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in 2018?
In 2018, Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will be an unrestricted free agent. And the main question will be whether or not the team will look to lock 25-year old down long term. The going rate on Lawrence could be high if he has a terrific 2017 season. And he could be priced a bit out of the Cowboys price range.
Lawrence has been an inconsistent pass rusher and has been suspended on a couple of occasions. He has also suffered a couple of injuries that have hindered his production.
It remains to be seen if the Cowboys value Lawrence enough to offer him a big second contract especially considering the fact that they drafted rookie pass rusher, Taco Charlton in the 2017 NFL draft.
The team from a personnel standpoint seems to be saying that they do not want Lawrence to leave but they are prepared for his departure if a bidding war ensues over his contract during free agency.
Lawrence has made some big plays during his time with Dallas but one could easily say that players such as David Irving or Maliek Collins would not have similar results. The only way I see the team bringing back Lawrence is if he has an 8 plus sack total at the end of the season.
That would not only show his growth in this defensive scheme but the ability to continually get to opposing quarterbacks. Probably the most important thing for Lawrence will be his ability to stay healthy and out of trouble.
If he can play a full 16 games with consistency and productivity, the Cowboys could feel compelled to pay him for his future potential/production. Anyway you look at it is an interesting dilemma.
It’s a Dallas team that still needs help putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and one of their most promising weapons for doing just that has not even earned a second contract. All of which puts Lawrence in a gray area in terms of 2018 offseason importance.
Star offensive lineman Zack Martin is infinitely more important in signing as he has earned a major deal. Martin has proven to be one of the most productive offensive linemen in the NFL and the Cowboys can see that.
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DeMarcus Lawrence has never had double digit sack totals and has never shown he can be a constant threat defensively. The Dallas Cowboys front office will have a tough task of deciding what to do with Lawrence especially if he has a productive 2017.