Stephen Jones was open and honest about the ongoing contract talks between the team and and their best defensive player, DeMarcus Lawrence.
The two sides are just not close and Lawrence is not budging.
“Right now, the best way to describe it is we’re at an impasse,” Jones said Tuesday afternoon from the NFL owners meetings. “We’re apart. But certainly optimistic. No one thinks more of DeMarcus Lawrence than we do. He represents what we want on our football team, in terms of the way he plays the game. He certainly plays it at a high level. We’ll continue to chop wood.”
The gap between the sides continues to widen. According to multiple sources, Lawrence’s demands increased in the last few weeks. He went from asking for an average salary of $20 million per season to $22.5 million. Last month, the Cowboys were unwilling to give Lawrence a $20 million average, but have since increased their offer to that point. Sources indicate the Cowboys are willing to give Lawrence a six-year contract worth $120 million.”
According to Calvin Watkins of The Athletic, franchise-tagged DE DeMarcus Lawrence is seeking $22.5 million annually in contract talks with Dallas.
The deadline to sign players under the franchise tag is July 15. That tag will cost Dallas $20.5 million fully guaranteed for the 2019 season. That have until July to negotiate a long-term extension.
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Lawrence, 26, is a former 2nd-round pick of the Cowboys in 2014 out of Boise State. In 2018, Lawrence appeared in all 16 games and recorded 64 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, a recovery and a pass defense. He was EVERYWHERE!
