Cowboys News: Stephen Jones 'Very Confident' About Demarcus Lawrence's Contract

Dallas Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said Tuesday that he's "very confident" the team can come to a long-term contract extension with star pass-rusher Demarcus Lawrence, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News:

Those remarks come after Lawrence released a video while wearing a shirt that read, "Money I need you," which appeared to be a not-so-subtle message for the Cowboys.

Lawrence, 26, registered 64 combined tackles, 10.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in 2018, earning a grade of 88.0 from Pro Football Focus (ninth among edge-rushers). He's accumulated 34 sacks in 64 career games.

He'd surely attract plenty of interest as a free agent, putting some pressure on the Cowboys to sign him to a long-term extension. The team does have the franchise tag as a backup plan until the 4 p.m. ET deadline March 5, which would cost the team around $20 million, though neither side seems excited by that prospect.

Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram reported last week that the Cowboys will "take a wait-and-see approach with defensive end Lawrence before tagging him for the second straight season and potentially beginning a contentious negotiation that could result in a holdout."

He also reported that Lawrence has "no interest in playing under the tag for a second straight season."

It's unlikely either side wants a lengthy showdown, but the Cowboys aren't going to let Lawrence hit free agency March 13, meaning the possibility of a franchise tag looms. It's unclear if Lawrence would consider responding to that move by going the Le'Veon Bell route and sitting out a season, but if the two sides don't come to an agreement in the next week, the game of chicken will begin.