The Dallas Cowboys are not in a good cap situation this offseason, which led them to approach one of their best defensive players about taking a pay cut.
Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Cowboys asked DE DeMarcus Lawrence to take a pay cut from the $19 million he’s scheduled to make in 2022. However, he promptly declined.
Watkins also mentions that when a high-priced player rejects a pay cut, they’re usually released soon after. This news comes just days after reports that the Cowboys are expected to release veteran WR Amari Cooper for cap relief.
The Cowboys have a number of free agents they would like to retain, and are working like hell to get under the cap before the start of free agency.
The 29-year-old is a former second-round pick by the Cowboys in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Boise State. Lawrence still has two years left on his current deal and is owed base salaries of $19 million and $21 million.
If released, Lawrence would free up $8 million of available cap space while creating $19 million in dead money.
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Last season, he played in just seven games and recorded 21 tackles, three sacks, a defensive touchdown, two forced fumbles and five pass deflections.
