D.Law Contract Time

[Cowboy Brian]

Boy, those of us including myself who were too cautious and didn't want to lock him up long-term surely made a misjudgment.

It is time to either decide to throw him on a FT for another year, which could lead to him rightfully holding out, or put pen to paper.

Where is the market at for a player of his caliber, his potential, and his age? Well, it's quite steep.

We are likely looking at a Chandler Jones like deal, if not a bit higher.

The Lions are in the same boat with Ezekial Ansah, so it comes down to which of us sets the market first.

Chandler's contract is - $82.5mn, 31mn guaranteed (37.6%), and he is signed through 2022. I would imagine DLaw will look for a similar length, and a similar total, but likely want the guaranteed percentage to be closer to Melvin Ingrams 53.1%

My prediction and the offer I'd want him to sign now is as follows -

• 5 years
• $85mn total
• $40mn guaranteed (47%)

My alternative offer would be -

• 5 years
• $75mn total, rising to $105mn with incentives
• $35mn guaranteed (46.7%)

 

[TwoDeep3]

And he goes two games without a sack, or twists an ankle, then do you rewrite this thread?

 

[okstateCowboy]

We went years begging for an elite pass rusher to replace Ware. Don’t let him walk

 

[Cowboy Brian]

And he goes two games without a sack, or twists an ankle, then do you rewrite this thread?

Nop.

Mid last season around game 4 or 5 I said we should get ahead of it and sign him before we end up in a situation having to give out a massive contract like this.

At this point, we are fools to let him walk, we don't want the drama of him potentially holding out with another FT (which would also cripple our cap space next offseason), and if he continues to produce he can go down in history as the next in the long line of elite pass-rushers that spent their (or at least most of it) with the star on their helmet.

 

[MizzouCowboy4]

Nop.

Mid last season around game 4 or 5 I said we should get ahead of it and sign him before we end up in a situation having to give out a massive contract like this.

At this point, we are fools to let him walk, we don't want the drama of him potentially holding out with another FT (which would also cripple our cap space next offseason), and if he continues to produce he can go down in history as the next in the long line of elite pass-rushers that spent their (or at least most of it) with the star on their helmet.[/QUO



No he needs to be signed by Jones

 

[AzorAhai]

The market has already been reset by the Mack deal. He won’t get that kind of money, but if he finishes around that 15 sack mark again he’s going to expect a 20 million plus per year deal. I wouldn’t be surprised if 5 years 100-110 million is what he is expecting now.

 

[Ranching]

Way too early....let's see how Taco and Gregory progress.

 

[Gaede]

literally one of the best pass rushers in the league. In his prime. Give him whatever he wants

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Way too early....let's see how Taco and Gregory progress.

After spending 5 years looking for a top 5 pass rusher, I'm not interested in playing games on this one.

Is the guideline not to feed your QB, top pass rusher, and LT in that order?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

literally one of the best pass rushers in the league. In his prime. Give him whatever he wants

Yep....he's a force even when he's not getting there.

 

[beware_d-ware]

I don't see any advantage to paying him midseason - his value is still top 5 pass rusher right now and that's not going to go up between now and Christmas. This offseason, I'd approach him with an offer for 4 years, 70 million and basically guarantee the first 2 years.

I don't see any advantage to tagging him unless he and his agent just ask for stupid money. He's past the prove-it phase: he's got 20 sacks in his last 20 games and when he was healthy in 2015, he put up 7 sacks in 8 games. The hits and hurries are there too, the run defense is way there, he beats good tackles, he's consistent, - I mean, I don't know what else you want to see. Health is the only question mark, but if he finishes out a second healthy season then even that objection's going to be tough to make. He's a top 5 edge defender in this game, and at some point, you've got to pay him like one.

As far as Tank's end, I'm sure he could get stupid money in free agency from some bottom feeder, but if Dallas offers him top 5 money to stay in a system where he's excelled, then I don't know he says no to that.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Yep....he's a force even when he's not getting there.

D.Law always making an impact like D.Ware in his prime.

We should automatically upgrade any defensive player named DeMarcus by 5 spots on our draft board. LOL.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

I don't see any advantage to paying him midseason - his value is still top 5 pass rusher right now and that's not going to go up between now and Christmas. This offseason, I'd approach him with an offer for 4 years, 70 million and basically guarantee the first 2 years.

I don't see any advantage to tagging him unless he and his agent just ask for stupid money. He's past the prove-it phase: he's got 20 sacks in his last 20 games and when he was healthy in 2015, he put up 7 sacks in 8 games. The hits and hurries are there too, the run defense is way there, he beats good tackles, he's consistent, - I mean, I don't know what else you want to see. Health is the only question mark, but if he finishes out a second healthy season then even that objection's going to be tough to make. He's a top 5 edge defender in this game, and at some point, you've got to pay him like one.

The problem is if he performs at the level he has these first 4 weeks for the entire season, he won't be looking for a Chandler contract, he'll be looking for a Khalil Mack $110mn contract.

 

[Hoofbite]

As long as there are teams willing to the raise the bar, the cost is always going to be greater than you hope for. There is no shortage of cap space in the NFL, Dallas included in 2019. Any team that thinks they are an elite pass rusher away from competing will undoubtedly go higher than $17M/year. Aaron Donald just set the bar at $22.5M/year.

Lawrence is already making $17M this year. Why would he just sit on that? There's likely a number of teams that would go to $18M or $19M, and there is always going to be that one team that will reset the bar.

 

[Ranching]

After spending 5 years looking for a top 5 pass rusher, I'm not interested in playing games on this one.

Is the guideline not to feed your QB, top pass rusher, and LT in that order?

Hes good but he's not great. If we can parlay him for some offensive play makers that would help us a lot more. I made my living as a defensive coach, but as a head coach I saw the value of a good offense.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Gonna take at least 20 million a year.

 

[Mobinvans]

Hes our second best player...got to pay him

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Hes good but he's not great. If we can parlay him for some offensive play makers that would help us a lot more. I made my living as a defensive coach, but as a head coach I saw the value of a good offense.

He is definitely performing at a great level.

 

[TX_Yid]

All he has done is deliver, DLaw and Zeke deserved to be paid.

 

[atlantacowboy]

DLAW should be one of the top 5 paid DE's in the league. His 3 sacks against Detroit were the difference in the game. He is the only guy we have on the DL that makes any difference. Taco is looking more like a JAG every week.