DeMarcus Lawrence rejecting pay cut could end his time with Cowboys

It’s the Dallas Cowboys offseason AKA the season of rumors and roster changes. As we all know, the Cowboys are currently over $21 million over the cap heading into 2022. With 24 players hitting free agency and many high-level salaries for star players taking up cap space, the front office has their work cut out for them in the next few weeks. In February, reports started to come out that DeMarcus Lawrence and Amari Cooper (given their incredibly large contracts) could be Dallas cap casualties in order for the team to save money.

Last week, we reported that the rumors about Cooper are leaning towards being fact. The team is reportedly set on cutting the start wideout. On Sunday, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News added new reports to the cap casualty contraversies. Watkins said that the Cowboys tried to get Lawrence to accept a pay cut for the 2022 season, and “Tank” reportedly declined. The defensive end is ready to play hardball with Jerry Jones.

Lawrence is currently the third-highest paid player on the entire Cowboys roster with a $19 million base salary for 2022. However, Dallas could save almost $8 million by cutting the fan favorite. Tank’s decision not to make it work financially with the Cowboys certainly hints at a potential exit in the near future. It is also important to note that the defender’s exit could mean the ability to sign free agent and fellow edge rusher Randy Gregory.

While Lawrence is certainly a fan favorite and a big personality on the defense, the edge rusher likely knows that he can get a giant pay check elsewhere and will likely have many offers on the table from several teams around the league.

DeMarcus Lawrence rejects a pay cut offer from the Dallas Cowboys, putting his future with America’s Team in question

This news is a huge blow to Cowboys Nation. We already knew a lot would have to change on this roster in 2022, but potentially seeing Cooper and Lawrence leave the team will not be easy. Watching Cooper score touchdowns and Lawrence make sacks in different uniforms next year will be difficult to do, especially with a guy like Lawrence.

The edge rusher has worn the star since the day he stepped into the NFL. The Boise State product was a huge part of the 2021 defensive turnaround for the Cowboys. In his seven years with Dallas, Lawrence has 321 tackles, 48.5 sacks, and 100 QB hits. Another excellent factor about him is that he has been one of the most durable players on the roster.

Dallas is a team that struggles on both sides of the ball with injury-prone players. Before his injury this past season, Lawrence hadn’t missed a game since 2016. While Lawrence denying a pay cut is not a rumor, he still isn’t gone quite yet, although it seems inevitable. This news adds yet another dagger to an already painful Cowboys offseason.