The Dallas Cowboys have always had a stacked roster over the last few years, but it hasn’t translated to playoff success. Now, they’re in a situation where they have had to pinch pennies in order to have enough salary cap space to give lucrative extensions to pass rusher Micah Parsons, star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott.
As a result, the Cowboys made meager offseason additions in free agency this spring. While their defense looked dominant at times in 2023, they may have to take a step back on that side of the football in order to move forward.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence has been a fixture on Dallas’ defensive line for the last several years. But Anthony DiBona of Pro Football Network feels he could end up getting traded at some point not too long from now.
“While it’s clear that Micah Parsons is a foundational piece on the edge for the Dallas Cowboys, DeMarcus Lawrence isn’t getting any younger,” wrote DiBona. “Lawrence is heading into the final year of his three-year contract with the Cowboys.
“Dallas could actually save $10 million by trading Lawrence, which would free up more snaps for the Cowboys’ young pass rushers. Dallas selected Marshawn Kneeland in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, potentially signaling the end of Lawrence’s tenure.”
The Cowboys may be forced to trade DeMarcus Lawrence to save money
Lawrence is 32 years of age, but he still made the Pro Bowl last season for the second year in a row and the fourth time in his career overall. If he is traded, he could yield a bit of draft capital for Dallas while providing another team with a valuable veteran.
Dallas has already lost Dorance Armstrong Jr., its other starting defensive end last season, in free agency. Because of the team’s salary cap situation, it is in a place where it needs to depend on young players on rookie contracts to be serviceable, if not develop into studs.
There is a considerable amount of anxiety that perhaps Prescott will not receive an extension to remain with the Cowboys. There is a feeling that he will enter unrestricted free agency next offseason and truly test the waters of the open market, perhaps in an attempt to go to a new team.
It is starting to look like Prescott will simply play out the 2024 season without an extension. If Lawrence does get traded soon enough, at least then it would be a little easier for the Cowboys to offer Prescott a competitive extension before the end of this upcoming season.
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