Report: Cowboys plan to use franchise tag on DeMarcus Lawrence

The Dallas Cowboys plan to use the franchise tag on defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who's coming off a 14.5-sack season, the Dallas Morning News' David Moore reports.

Teams can begin assigning the franchise tag Tuesday, but the Cowboys reportedly intend to wait until closer to the March 6 deadline as they work on a long-term deal.

At his best, Lawrence has been a dominant pass-rusher in Dallas, but he's yet to sustain that level from one year to the next. He posted zero sacks as a rookie, eight as a sophomore, one as a third-year player, and, finally, 14.5 in his most recent season.

The franchise tag for defensive ends is expected to cost about $17.5 million, so it'll be an expensive short-term investment if the Cowboys can't ink Lawrence to a new deal before he signs the franchise tender.

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