2017 was not overly kind to the Dallas Cowboys and the team's inability to reach the NFL Playoffs is a reminder of that. However, there were a few bright spots for Jason Garrett's team and perhaps the most encouraging was the play of DeMarcus Lawrence on the defensive side of the ball.
The 25-year-old pass rusher zoomed to a career-high 14.5 sacks this season and, with that performance on his resume, Lawrence is set to command a great deal of money moving forward. However, it appears that Lawrence understand that, whether by long-term contract or franchise tag, he's likely to remain in Dallas for at least the 2018 campaign.
In speaking to Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Lawrence said the following:
"I already know what my situation is. I don't really care about it because I know how the Cowboys feel about me and they know how I feel about the organization. My agent is going to take care of everything, and he knows how everyone feels.
"I know I'm not going anywhere."
Lawrence's apparent confidence in the organization could lead to a multi-year deal but, at the very least, it would be a shock to see the Cowboys fall short of locking him up with the franchise tag. From a roster building standpoint, it would make a ton of sense for Dallas to land Lawrence for the long haul, but this situation (and negotiation) will be one to closely monitor.
The Cowboys can't afford to be without Lawrence and it appears that he knows it.
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