DeMarcus Lawrence's Agent 'Optimistic' About Cowboys Talks Ahead of NFL Free Agency

DeMarcus Lawrence's agent indicated his client wants to play a 12th season with the Dallas Cowboys, but that the decision will ultimately be up to the team.

David Canter, who represents Lawrence, said there is a "possibility that he leaves" in free agency during a Thursday appearance on 105.3 The Fan's Shan & RJ (h/t Audacy.)

"I'm optimistic with our conversations with the Cowboys, that they're very aware of what it'll take to keep DeMarcus a cowboy," Canter said. "Honestly, that's up to them it's not up to us."

According to Canter, Lawrence is "100 percent healthy" after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 4 of the 2024 season.

Canter also said he and Lawrence had never discussed retirement after the defensive end suffering a Lisfranc injury on Sept. 26.

"Demarcus Lawrence is going to continue to play football. We've never talked to ‘R’ word (retirement)," Canter said, per Audacy. "It's never been in our vernacular."

Lawrence was placed on the injured reserve on Oct. 2. Although his recovery timeline was originally listed as four to eight weeks, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones showed optimism he could return in November, Lawrence did not play again last season.

Cowboys reporter Bryan Broaddus said in December on 105.3 the Fan's GBag Nation (h/t Audacy) that the team was shutting Lawrence down for the rest of the season after trying "their best to get him back."

"They just couldn't get that (foot) where it needed to be, and it wasn't worth the risk for them going forward," Broaddus said in December.

Canter told Shan and RJ that Lawrence "was healthy towards the end of the year, but it just didn't make sense to come back with the season kind of lost."

Lawrence led the team with 3.0 sacks at the time of his injury. He will now hit free agency heading into his age-33 season.

The Cowboys' priority this season will be negotiating what will likely be a lucrative extension for star linebacker Micah Parsons, but bringing back Lawrence could be crucial to a team looking for stability following the retirement of veteran guard Zack Martin.

Nick Harris reported Tuesday for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the Cowboys plan to meet with Lawrence and representation "to discuss a potential return to Dallas" during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, which runs from Thursday to Sunday in Indianapolis. The free agency signing period officially opens when the 2025 league year begins March 12.