Report: Dallas Cowboys offered paycut to star defensive end

The Dallas Cowboys offered a paycut to defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, according to a report from Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. The report also states that the two-time Pro Bowler declined the offer as the team looks for salary cap space this offseason.

DeMarcus Lawrence is one of the longest-tenured Dallas Cowboys, playing for the organization since they drafted him No. 34 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. However, in desperate need of salary cap relief heading into the offseason with big contracts on the books for Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper, change is coming to the roster.

Over eight seasons in the NFL, Lawrence has played in 103 games with 85 starts. He has 321 totals tackles in that time with 48.5 sacks and 100 quarterback hits. Adding to his numbers, Lawrence has 17 career forced fumbles and a safety with two interceptions.

Lawrence is currently on a five-year contract worth $105 million which leaves him as an unrestricted free agent in 2024, according to Spotrac. His 2022 cap hit is $27 million and would climb to $29 million the next season. The refusal to take a paycut does not leave the Cowboys without options however, as they hold a potential opt out which would leave $19 million in dead cap this offseason.

Cowboys make more roster moves

A big domino appears to have fallen ahead of the start of the NFL’s new league year. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dallas Cowboys are likely to release wide receiver Amari Cooper.

“Cowboys are “likely” to release WR Amari Copper by the start of the new league year, per league sources,” Schefter tweeted on Friday morning. “Cooper is due $20 million in fully guaranteed money on the fifth day of the new league year, March 20.”

Cooper played in 15 games this past season, bringing in 68 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. In 56 games with the Cowboys, Cooper has hauled in 292 receptions for 3,893 yards and 27 touchdowns. Star wideout CeeDee Lamb led the Cowboys in receiving with 79 receptions for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns this past season. Tight end Dalton Schultz also had 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns.

Elsewhere at wide receiver, the Cowboys have Cedrick Wilson and Michael Gallup, among others. Wilson had 45 receptions for 602 yards and six touchdowns in 2021, while Gallup dealt with injuries, bringing in 35 receptions for 445 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.