Demarcus Lawrence wants at least $17 mil per year

[Cebrin]

Dumber still to pay an oft injured guy who produced for 1 year during his contract year

The ONLY option is the franchise tag
I would not even discuss a long term deal unless he remains healthy and produces again this year

I think had they gotten the back surgery done in the beginning, we'd have seen this a year prior. Politics slowed his production IMO. We were so destitute at the position, he played hurt, a la Tyron Smith.

 

[visionary]

I think had they gotten the back surgery done in the beginning, we'd have seen this a year prior. Politics slowed his production IMO. We were so destitute at the position, he played hurt, a la Tyron Smith.

I don't know the ins and outs but IMO tag is the only option
We'd be monumentally stupid to give him a long term deal

 

[Aviano90]

He wants $17, the tag is $17.5. I say let him play on the tag for a season. If he plays as good/better than this past season, then you throw money at him. If he doesn't.....the price comes down.

We can do that. Then he is going to know the tag for next year would be $21 million and ask for $20.5 million per year and the team would be faced with the same decision. The benefit would be that we would have another year to see what Taco may become and the Gregory situation (as slim as it may be) should be resolved.

However, it's taken 4 years to find a pass rusher after Ware left. I'm tired of most of the resources being thrown to the offense and the defense penny pinching. I'd rather them gamble right off the bat and let's secure Lawrence before his rate goes up further. Really, if he duplicates next year, we will still be concerned he won't do it for a 3rd year in a row.

 

[Cebrin]

I don't know the ins and outs but IMO tag is the only option
We'd be monumentally stupid to give him a long term deal

I get your concern. It really depends on how the structure of the contract is. Either way, I'd love to have he, and Irving back. If we draft a 3 down 1 tech, it will help the whole defense. Linebackers can focus on zone coverage, instead of being first to meet the RB. It's going to be an interesting off-season, with so many variables.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Why would he expect less? His agent would be doing Lawrence and also other potential FAs a disservice if he doesn't at least try to set the market. He's a 25 year old pass rusher coming off a career year heading to free agency. Jackpot!

 

[lostar2009]

Jerruah wanted a war daddy. Boom! There you go and now everyone feeling salty?

 

[conner01]

It shouldn't even be a debate. Back up what you did this year and then talk a long term deal.

Seems reasonable to me and he’s already said he’s fine with the tag
I also suspect that’s more agent talk than player talk wanting 17 mil a year

 

[conner01]

Jerruah wanted a war daddy. Boom! There you go and now everyone feeling salty?

War Daddies cost money lol

 

[Nightman]

Why wouldn't he ask for what Vernon got?

Because Vernon had 2 crappy years since signing......those 5 sacks were monumental this year

 

[CPanther95]

Tag, tag, then let him go.

I'd have a firm policy never to give a long term deal to any player that waits for a contract year to finally be productive - regardless of the circumstances.

 

[Praxit]

..dont do it Jerry. Learn from Billicheck how you do things. For that price you can get 2 younger players who could pan out well. These ordeals always fallout with cowboys. History speaks volumes.

 

[aria]

It's really about the guaranteed money and how the payout is structured. If the Cowboys can get out the deal after year 2 with < $40M sunk in guarantees, I think it's a good deal for the Cowboys. The risk/reward consideration bodes well for the Cowboys with a young, ascending player in a highly coveted position. To captivate DLaw and his agent the Cowboys can throw in another substantial roster bonus that kicks in during March after year 2.

Someone is going to pay this guy. Why allow him to be a force on another team?

Because he may not be as much as a force as we want him to be. The fact is he had one good break out year amongst a few average years and has a somewhat concerning injury history. It would be moronic to sign him to a long term deal without several performance based incentives attached so that’s probably exactly what Jerry will so. Dez 2.0

 

[gmoney112]

Obviously.

Hey, the obvious police called, they said they'd take no **** for 400$, Alex.

You tag now, you lose all cap leverage in the important few years before Dak, possible Zeke, and whoever's potential contracts. Also, Irving.

If you end up keeping him you'll lose that leverage and you'll end up paying more. If he has another great season he'll want to be the highest paid next year, when contracts are accelerating in numbers quickly.

Depends if the FO legitimately see him being a 4-5 year contributor.

I'd really only tag him if I didn't expect to keep him long term.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Pay him, it’s not my money. Pass rushers don’t come cheap.

 

[aria]

Pay him and watch him end up like Dez so we can have 20 similar threads to cry about in the off season 2-3 years from now. It will also give us Jerry haters more ammo, like we need any. I’m all for it.

Last GM that did something that stupid (Vernon and JPP) no longer has a job, I wonder why? Oh that’s right, Jerry said he would fire himself as GM but won’t so he has nothing to worry about. Carry on Jerrah, it’s not like you don’t already have 2 dozen Grade A’s still dripping all over your plastic face from the past 20 years, what’s one more gonna hurt?

 

[cern]

Qb's, lt's, shut down corners, and top edge rushers make big bucks. Lawrence has proven himself to be a top edge rusher. Wasn't a fluke. Wasn't a contract year (myth) performance for the money. He's just that good. Tag him.

 

[Alexander]

Because Vernon had 2 crappy years since signing......those 5 sacks were monumental this year

So he should give a friendly deal because the Giants overpaid?

 

[aria]

Qb's, lt's, shut down corners, and top edge rushers make big bucks. Lawrence has proven himself to be a top edge rusher. Wasn't a fluke. Wasn't a contract year (myth) performance for the money. He's just that good. Tag him.

How do you know it wasn’t just one year being that it was his first really good year?

He’s also missed 16 games in 3 years, 2 back surgeries and a pretty significant foot injury. Was also suspended 4 games for PEDS. The franchise tag was meant for players like this.

 

[EPL0c0]

Then I want 17+ sacks per year, every year

could they give him, say a base salary of $11M or 12M guaranteed and an incentive of $250K/sack?

That's $5.625M to tie the NFL record (22.5). Then cap his salary at $18M (would need 24-28 sacks)

He would be in full control of how much money he makes b/c unlike WRs/RBs/TEs/QBs that need a lot of moving parts to work for them to put up numbers, a DE can really do a lot of solo work to get their stats up

Lawrence would never take that but he'd be real cool if he did

 

[Alexander]

Pretty hard to argue against it. And it was two seasons ago already.

That still won't stop some fans for getting upset that he is starting at that point.

I get that he had a rough start to his career, but he is entitled to at least ask for that. He had an excellent year.

He owes the Cowboys nothing.

If it damages their cap, it is not his problem.