FRISCO, Texas – With the 2020 season set to begin in three days, the Dallas Cowboys continue to think about 2021 – at least from a salary cap perspective and with an eye on Dak Prescott’s future.
Sources say the Cowboys have restructured defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence’s contract, creating a cap of $ 12 million.
With the recent restructuring of contracts for offensive linemen Tyron Smith ($ 7.1 million) and Zack Martin ($ 7.9 million), as well as Lawrence, the Cowboys have created an estimated $ 27 million cap room. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Cowboys had $ 18.3 million under the cap before Lawrence’s move.
Lawrence had $ 15 million of his base salary of $ 16.9 million turned into a signing bonus to create the extra piece. As was the case with the Smith deal, the Cowboys also added a voidable year to Lawrence’s contract; it is currently signed until 2024, which allows the team to spread the new pro rata over five years.
The Cowboys, like all teams, will carry over any unused cap space this season until 2021, which is more imperative now as the cap is expected to drop significantly due to the coronavirus pandemic. The cap this year is $ 198.2 million and the floor of the 2021 cap will be $ 175 million.
If the Cowboys were to use the franchise tag on Prescott a second time, it would cost them $ 37.7 million. Before the restructurings for Smith, Martin and Lawrence, they wouldn’t have had room for the tag, which would have required more restructuring or the release of players next season.
If the Cowboys and Prescott can avoid the franchise tag and strike a deal on a long-term deal, the team would have enough cap to either extend other players or simply carry that money over until 2022.
Under the rules of franchise etiquette, the Cowboys and Prescott can only sign a long-term deal after this season.
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