Stephen Jones said the Cowboys have made an offer to defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence recently and is hopeful a deal can be worked out before March 5, the deadline to use the franchise tag. The Cowboys will meet with his agent, David Canter, later this week at the combine in Indianapolis. “It’s the last day you’ve got to tag him but at the end of the day we know it’s not over if it doesn’t get done by then," Jones said. "I hate to put deadlines on anything. Would we like to get it done? I’d like to have it done yesterday. We’ve just got to continue to work.” If a deal is not finalized by March 5, the sides would have until July 15 to get it done. If no deal is done by then Lawrence would have to play on the franchise tag. If he is tagged a second straight year, Lawrence will not attend the offseason program, training camp and could miss regular-season games.
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer