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4 players the Dallas Cowboys could cut this offseason

By Joey Pollizze

Dec 26, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Football Team cornerback Danny Johnson (36) and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) in action during the game between the Washington Football Team and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Football Team cornerback Danny Johnson (36) and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) in action during the game between the Washington Football Team and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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DeMarcus Lawrence, Cowboys
Oct 11, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) avoids a tackle by Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

2. DeMarcus Lawrence (DE)

With Dallas still needing to clear some cap, they could look at star defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. This will likely make Cowboys fans unhappy as Lawrence is typically a fan favorite. If Dallas keeps Cooper, it would almost be impossible to also keep Lawrence. Essentially, one, if not both, needs to be gone before the season begins.

Since signing his five-year, $105 million contract in 2019, Lawrence has had three consecutive subpar years (2019-2021). In those seasons, he combined for 14.5 sacks, 33 quarterback hits, and 26 tackles for loss. Although he missed 10 games due to injury in 2021, he played in 39 games during those years.

To put things into perspective, in two seasons prior to getting paid (2017 and 2018), Lawrence made the Pro Bowl twice, hasn’t been back since, and combined for 25 sacks including a career-high 14.5 in 2017. That 2017 year, he finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Also, in those two seasons, he combined for 49 quarterback hits and 29 tackles for loss.

The 29-year-old defensive end was once a top player on defense. Now, his contract is too big for the Cowboys to keep. There is a recurring theme for the Cowboys so far. Once a player has a good season, they pay them a ridiculous amount of money: Elliott, Cooper, Lawrence, etc.

As for Lawrence, his cap hit is set at $27 million, second-highest on the team behind Prescott and second-highest defensive end in the league behind New York Giants’ Leonard Williams. Like Cooper, the Cowboys can save a lot of money if they release him. The full breakdown is below.

Cowboys, Lawrence
Cowboys, Lawrence /

The Cowboys might choose to keep Lawrence, but they have options. For starters, if they can trade him, they can get extra draft picks and save money, but again, no one would probably want his large contract.

But, releasing him after the June 1 deadline would save $19 million towards the cap space this year. With the Cowboys cap space for 2023 currently set at $11.7 million, they might want to release him after that June 1 date. Then, they would save $19 million and worry about that $11 million next year, when they get there.

Nonetheless, the Cowboys understandably might not want to release both Cooper and Lawrence, two former Pro Bowlers. So, they might choose to release/trade one and try to cut players elsewhere.

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