DeMarcus Lawrence: Time to put your future money where your mouth is

Does Dallas Cowboys‘ defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence have the strategic vision to take less money with the chance to achieve all of his goals?

The Dallas Cowboys franchise tagged soon to be 27-year-old defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence this week. Based on early reports, we are left to believe that the team and the player are far apart in their negotiation.

As a 27-year-old many years ago, I was living pay check to pay check supporting my family like most twenty somethings. I fully understand why more money is desirable.

However, as I have gotten older, I have learned that while you need money to live, it is not necessary to live a happy life. I would take less money now to have more vacation time so I could be with my family as an example of how my priorities have changed.

Lawrence went on record at the Pro Bowl telling the Dallas Morning News the following …

"“The Cowboys already know what it is. They know where I want to be. I got big goals, not just for me, but for us as a team and as an organization. So I feel freely to tell the organization, I love being a Cowboy. And I love playing hard.”"

While it wasn’t clear what those goals are, one could assume his big team goals include winning a Super Bowl. So it seems that Lawrence wants more than just money. But actions speak louder than words. Would he be willing to take less than fair market contract to help the Cowboys achieve the big team goals he desires?

The salary cap is the great equalizer in the NFL. Each team is given the same amount of resource and is free to spend how they choose.

In the salary cap era, no team has been as successful as the New England Patriots who have figured out the secret to success. It doesn’t matter how talented the player, if their contract desires exceed the budget they move on.

Premier pass rushers on the Patriots have not escaped this philosophy. Ten years ago, the Pats traded Richard Seymour to the Raiders. Three years ago they traded Chandler Jones to the Cardinals.

Jones has recorded 41.0 sacks in his three seasons in Arizona and has made a lot of money playing for a woeful NFL franchise. The Patriots have played for the Super Bowl each year winning two over the same three-year period. As a fan, I want the team I support to make the decisions that lead to championships.

While I tend to think Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden is still coaching as if it is 1998, he may have been a visionary dealing perennial all pro defensive end Khalil Mack for two first round draft picks and saving about $24 million in cap space per year. The Cowboys should take notice.

Cowboys fans all know Owner Jerry Jones affinity for “war daddy” pass rushers. D-Law is a top five pass rusher in the NFL today who plays the run with the same passion as chasing quarterbacks.

The Cowboys would not be questioned if they offered Lawrence a contract north of $20 million per year but should they? Executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones has publicly stated that running back Ezekiel Elliott is due for a top of the market contract. And that quarterback Dak Prescott will get his big pay day soon.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper was certainly a difference maker who likely earned a $16 million plus contract next offseason. There are only so many dollars to go around.

This coming season is likely cornerback Byron Jones’ last with the Cowboys. Dallas may even need to consider cutting offensive linemen Tyron Smith or Travis Frederick in the future as there is only so much money to go around.

If the stories about the disparity between the contract negotiation is true, I would hope that the Cowboys would consider trading Lawrence as crazy an idea as it would seem. It will be extremely difficult for Dallas to compete for the Super Bowl with a top heavy roster completed with minimum wage rookie and first year players.

I would love to have Lawrence on the Cowboys for the next four years with a yearly cap hit no higher than $17 million. I wonder if D-Law could have the strategic vision to take less money with the chance to achieve all of his goals.

Two-time Super Bowl champion defensive end Chris Long might have a thing or two to say about the value of winning the Super Bowl versus having a large contract. He’s had both and his actions would show that the money was not enough. I hope that Lawrence recognizes this opportunity while he is still in his prime.