Will Dallas be able to reach a deal with Tank soon? It does not appear so.
Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence has established himself as a dominant force in the Dallas Cowboys defensive front the past two years, but the NFC East team is reportedly still “not close” to re-signing him.
Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram reported the news, noting a deal is not expected by Tuesday unless there is an “unexpected miracle offer.”
Tuesday’s date (March 5) is notable because it is the deadline for the Cowboys to decide whether they will use the franchise tag on him for the second year in a row.
Blake Schuster of Yahoo Sports noted Lawrence “has expressed a desire to avoid the tag,” but there is still no contract in place after his representatives met with the Cowboys brass in Indianapolis during the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Cowboys are not close with DeMarcus Lawrence. Don't expect a deal by March 5, barring unexpected miracle offer
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) March 3, 2019
Reports: Cowboys’ Cole Beasley seeking $20 million guaranteed in free agency - SportsDay
Lawrence is not the only free agent that the Cowboys have to worry about. Cole Beasley is asking for $20 million guaranteed.
Per a source, the Cowboys want Cole Beasley to come back but also also struggling with his contract demands of $20 million guaranteed
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) March 3, 2019
A $20 million deal would make Beasley one of the top 15 paid receivers for guaranteed money in the NFL, tying him with Emmanuel Sanders and DeSean Jackson, according to spotrac.com
Beasley had a resurgent season after struggling in 2017. Beasley had 672 receiving yards and three touchdowns, including the game-changer in Cowboys’ season finale against the New York Giants.
Dak is entrenched behind center, but will Cowboys look to add a veteran behind him?
Address in free agency
The team’s template not long ago was to have a veteran backup at the position. Jon Kitna, who will serve as quarterbacks coach this season, is an example.
That’s not been the case the past two seasons, and it won’t be the case in ‘19. Prescott’s durability minimizes the premium placed on a veteran insurance policy. The club will spend that money elsewhere with an eye toward developing young players behind him on the roster.
The shocking return of Jason Witten caused many to wonder if that would make the Cowboys think twice about adding another tight end. Jerry Jones says that is not the case.
”It won’t deter us in any way of using our first pick for a tight end, if we have the opportunity to,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Saturday.
Dallas doesn’t have a first-round pick, so Jones would be referring to No. 58 overall, the Cowboys’ second-round selection.
The addition of Witten has some concerned about the 36-year-old taking snaps away from younger tight ends the Cowboys are trying to develop.
Jones said he doesn’t see Witten as being a “progress-stopper.”
”While we had functioning blocking and functioning execution with our tight ends, we still weren’t what we were when Jason was there the year before,” Jones said. “And that’s not to criticize anybody. It’s just that we weren’t. He will elevate us there. So no, I don’t think he’s a progress-stopper.
Scout’s Notebook: Who Stood Out At TE, WR? - Bryan Broaddus, The Mothership
So with that in mind, which tight ends impressed in Indy?
Noah Fant definitely did.
Really nice day of athletic testing for TE Noah Fant from Iowa. Not only did Fant run in the low 4.5’s, he also had a 39.5-inch vertical jump as well as a 4.22 20-yard shuttlethat ranked second best in the group. Where Fant had a little trouble during the workout was the adjustment of his hands. He didn’t catch the ball as cleanly as he would haveliked and he was late another time in missing a pass. I still believe he will be selected after his college teammate T.J.Hockenson in this draft.
"In the mix to be the first TE [taken in the draft]."@HawkeyeFootball TE Noah Fant runs a lightning fast 4.51u 40-yard dash!
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2019
: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/54FcRhqivJ
Broaddus also gives a little bit of a sleeper to look out for.
Keep an eye on TE Kahale Warring from San Diego State. Dane Brugler was giving me his back story of not playing football until his senior year of high school, which sounds crazy. Warring has played all different sports in his life,including water polo. I really liked what I saw from him, not only his 4.68 40-yard dash but the way he caught the ball. I thought he had one of the best reps when it came to the gauntlet drill. His path was dead straight with not a hint of weave. His hands were in position and quick throughout the drill.
Who has Dallas met with in Indianapolis?
Here are the players the Dallas Cowboys have met with at the NFL Combine so far:
David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State
Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M
T. J. Hockensen, TE, Iowa
Dax Raymond, TE, Utah State
Stanley Morgan Jr. WR, Nebraska
Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State
Ethan Greenidge, OT, Villanova
Nate Davis, OG, Charlotte
Kinsley Keke, DT, Texas A&M
Charles Omenihu, DL, Texas (Senior Bowl, informal meeting)
Terry Beckner, DT, Missouri
Jonathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
Chauncey Garner-Johnson, S, Florida
Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State
Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston
The Cowboys do not have a first-round pick, but they do have Amari Cooper.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said how they are going to use Amari Cooper keeps him excited, keeps him from missing No. 1 draft pick
NFL Combine 2019 Results: Sunday Highlights, Reaction and Recap - Joseph Zucker, Bleacher Report
Here are some of the biggest moments from Sunday’s combine day.
The focus of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine shifted to the defensive side of the ball Sunday in Indianapolis.
Many eyes were on Ohio State Buckeyes pass-rusher Nick Bosa, who missed most of the 2018 season with a core muscle injury. Bosa’s stock hasn’t dropped much as a result of the injury, and the combine was an opportunity for him to remind coaches and team executives why he’s one of the top players overall.
Michigan’s Rashan Gary, Alabama’s Quinnen Williams and Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat were among the other notable defenders to take part in the combine this weekend.
A 6-foot-6 DL keeping up with @OBJ, @EzekielElliott and @AB84 in the 40-yard dash simulcam @_sweat9
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2019
: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Qyu7CrkZDK
.@jbbigbear vs. @nbsmallerbear...
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2019
It's a Bosa Brothers Simulcam!
: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/IxanFixgsH
At 350 pounds, @ClemsonFB DL @llawrence2139 runs a 5.05u 40-yard dash!
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2019
: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/RzfSJrdLbw