Dallas Cowboys using tag on DeMarcus Lawrence a necessity

The Dallas Cowboys are going to use the franchise tag to secure defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence for the second straight year in a row. Here’s why …

For several years, the Dallas Cowboys were in search for their next War Daddy pass rusher after the team opted to part ways with legendary linebacker DeMarcus Ware back in 2014. Little did Dallas know that they already had one in a second rounder selected that same year out of Boise State similarly named DeMarcus Lawrence.

After a rookie season cut in half due to a foot injury, the young defensive end showed signs of potential in his second year posting 8.0 sacks. Unfortunately, a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy combined with a nagging back injury led to a drastic drop in production in 2016 (11 tackles, 1.0 sack in nine games).

Just when the young pass rusher’s career in Dallas looked to be in jeopardy, Lawrence exploded for a whopping 14.5 sacks in 2017, which also happened to be a contract year. The Cowboys would use the franchise tag to retain his services for another season at the cost of $17.1 million. Lawrence was able to reproduce those stellar numbers in 2018, racking up 10.5 sacks and was scheduled to become the Crown Jewel of the free agent market later this month.

Lawrence has made two things clear this offseason. The 26-year old wants to remain in Dallas. And he also wants a long term deal. But as of this weekend, the reports were that both sides were not close to agreeing to a new contract.

Thus the Dallas Cowboys are now forced to franchise tag DeMarcus Lawrence for the second straight year in order to buy themselves some extra time. With this move, Dallas has until June 15 to get a new deal done. Lawrence has made it clear in the past that he will not play under a second franchise tag. The negotiations continue.