Cowboys rework contract, keep DeMarcus Lawrence on 3-year deal

The Cowboys used a rework of Lawrence’s contract to keep him in Dallas on a deal that helps both sides for now and the future. | From @CDBurnett7

On the first day of free agency, the Cowboys have made a huge move towards repeating as NFC East champions. No, they aren’t bringing in a high-priced free agent from the outside. And while re-signing Michael Gallup, officially, is a big deal, this isn’t about that either.

After reports swirled for the last month that defensive end Demarcus Lawrence’s time with the club could be nearing an end, Ed Werder of ESPN reported that Lawrence “isn’t going anywhere.” Turns out he was right. Lawrence is staying in Dallas with a reworked deal that will add a real third year remaining on his contract and spread the $40 million owed to him across all of them.

Previously, Lawrence had a 2022 base salary of $19 million and a 2023 base salary of $21 million. Of that $40 million, none of it was guaranteed. There was a 2024 year, but the it was a void year, in place to hold $3 million of restructure bonus that would’ve been dead money while he was on his next deal.

Another void year was added to help stretch out the signing bonus through 2025.

Considering the flack that executive vice president Stephen Jones has caught over the past week for the Amari Cooper and La’el Collins situations, this is a sigh of relief and great move for both sides. Lawrence gets guaranteed money over the next three years and Dallas gets another chunk of cap space for free agency after restructuring Dak Prescott and Zack Martin and trading Cooper.

In 2021, Lawrence was sidelined with a broken foot but came back and played well in the final six games of the season. In Dan Quinn’s defense, Lawrence has turned into a more dynamic defensive end as the anchor in run-stopping while still rushing the passer for three sacks in seven games last season.

On top of that, Lawrence had a ridiculous Pick 6 and two forced fumbles on the season. The Boise State product wasted no time celebrating the new deal on Twitter.

Now, the Cowboys gets him back on a cheaper contract and the door opens with $13 million cap space to make a splash in free agency if they see it fit.

[listicle id=694899][listicle id=694758][lawrence-newsletter]