DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Dallas Cowboys are franchise tagging defensive end Demarcus Lawrence for the second straight season, a source confirms to 105.3 The Fan's Mike Fisher.
ALERT: #Cowboys source confirms to me team's decide to place franchise tag on @TankLawrence as first noted by @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/JgpMCp866S
— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) March 4, 2019
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news Monday afternoon.
Lawrence will earn $20.5 million under this year's tag. He played under a $17.1 million tag in 2018.
According to Fish, Lawrence will not sign this year's tag like he did last season when he was happy to do so. The Cowboys had until Tuesday to place the tag on Lawrence and now will have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term agreement with the pass rusher.
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Fish is concerned that Lawrence could perceive the tag as a 'weapon' and elect to retaliate with his 'weapons' by sitting out or delaying surgery on his shoulder.
Next question: will Tank Lawrence perceive that #Cowboys r using the tag as a weapon' ... and retaliate with his 'weapons' - sit out, delayed surgery, etc.
— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) March 4, 2019Lawrence is coming off a 10.5 sack season. He had 14.5 in 2018.
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