Five-year NFL veteran DeMarcus Lawrence received the franchise tag from the Dallas Cowboys on Monday. It’s the second straight year he’s received such a designation from the team. As a defensive end, the move locks him into a one-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $17.143 million assuming the two sides can’t come to an agreement on a long-term deal before July 15.
Source: The #Cowboys are franchise tagging star pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2019
Demarcus Lawrence Receives Franchise Tag From Dallas Cowboys
Last year, his first under the tag, Lawrence recorded 10.5 sacks, 64 tackles, 23 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbled while appearing in all 16 games. This performance comes on the heels of a breakout 2017 campaign. During the final year of his rookie contract, Lawrence recorded 14.5 sacks, 58 tackles, 26 quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles.
Lawrence initially entered the NFL as the Cowboys’ second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Drafted to help replace DeMarcus Ware, Lawrence fractured his right foot during his first training camp. The rookie ended up on the short-term injured reserve but returned for the second half of the 2014 season. While he didn’t record a sack in the regular season, the rookie recorded the game-clinching sack in the Cowboys’ Wild Card victory over the Detroit Lions.
Lawrence built on his strong finish to 2014 with an impressive 2015 campaign. Playing in all 16 games, Lawrence recorded eight sacks, 55 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, and one forced fumble. Lawrence wasn’t able to replicate that success in 2016, as injuries limited him to just nine games played. During those nine games, Lawrence recorded just one sack, 11 tackles, six quarterbacks, and one forced fumble.
Prior to joining the NFL, Lawrence spent three years with Boise State. After not playing as a freshman, Lawrence recorded 9.5 sacks, 48 tackles, and one interception as a sophomore. Lawrence built on that performance in 2013, recording 10.5 sacks and 72 tackles during his Junior season.
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