Last year, the Cowboys and Demarcus Lawrence were unable to come to terms on a long-term deal, which resulted in Lawrence playing out the season on the one-year franchise tag. This time around, it sounds like the Cowboys are much more eager to get something done. 
“I wouldn’t say we were a long ways apart; we were apart,” Jones said of last year’s talks (via Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas News). “Certainly DeMarcus has done his part to make us feel more comfortable. He put together now two back-to-back, double-digit sack seasons. Of course he’s a leader by example. … Nothing’s changed in terms of my opinion, except for the better.”
Lawrence was plagued by back issues earlier in his career, but he has now turned in two consecutive healthy seasons. In 2017, he had 14.5 sacks, 58 total tackles, and four forced fumbles. This year, he had 10.5 sacks, 64 stops, two forced fumbles, and an interception. The Cowboys asked for a repeat of ’17 and they more or less got it, which has made them comfortable with a longer arrangement.
Last year, Lawrence earned $17.143MM under the franchise tender, but he has already said he’s not open to playing on the tag in 2019. Both sides now seem on the same page, but a new deal for Lawrence won’t come cheap. The Cowboys defensive star may have his eye on deals signed by Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack, which each exceeded the $22MM/year mark.
I’m a cowboys fan, and I think Donald/Mack money is a bit of a reach for him. Not saying to low ball him, but he isn’t quite at their level.
Agreed I don’t think he’ll get Donald/Mack or even Von Miller type money, but somewhere in the range of 5/85 right around Cox range and a little more than Watt and Jones.
Yea he’s worth closer to 15 than 20.. he’s streaky anyways, not quite elite but very very good
I am a cowboys fan and he is not Donald or Mack. They take over games by themselves and demand double teams. He is worth about $17-$18.
Danielle Hunter (Minn DE) signed a 5yr 72M contract last offseason. He’s a year younger and has been more productive than Lawrence to this point in their careers. Dallas can’t break the bank for this guy, he’s nowhere close to the level of Mack or Donald, and Dallas has a lot of guys coming up for extensions very soon.
So Jerry is going to keep a straight face while he says:
“Well, I would love to give you the kind of contract you are looking for but that 250MM dollar yacht of mine is in need of some upgrades so my answer is going to have to be no”.