What does the new DeMarcus Lawrence agreement mean for Frank Clark, Seahawks

The Dallas Cowboys have signed a $ 105 million five-year contract with DeMarcus Lawrence, according to reports Friday afternoon. Lawrence was on his second franchise label in as many years and was apparently waiting for a new contract before committing to play next season. This agreement is now in place and gives the Seattle Seahawks an idea of ​​where to stand in negotiations with Frank Clark, who is on his first franchise label.

Clark is expected to earn $ 17.1 million in 2019.

The key figure for Lawrence is $ 65 million for the first three years, the record for all non-QB in history, including $ 31.1 million in one year, or $ 100,000 more than Khalil Mack.

Lawrence is about to turn 27 and he has 25 sacks in the last two seasons, with 49 successes in QB and 29 in TFL. Clark will be 26 in June and will have 22 sacks, 48 ​​hits and 20 TFLs in the same period, but he will have 32 in the last three years, which is more than Lawrence, who has had difficult season in 2016 and especially one bag on nine games.

The Cowboys have chosen to wait and give Lawrence a year of "demonstration" after his breakthrough in 2017, and he has proven it. That said, there is no real evidence. Prove it. Lawrence is clearly a very talented runner, but many football players have proved more valuable before signing their biggest contract. This same risk will be applied to Clark if and when he signs an extension with Seattle.

Clark and his agent both hinted that he was ready to play 2019 on the franchise etiquette and that any "hold-up" does not seem to go further than him, he lacks the most time that he remains until his return, just to make the task as difficult. as possible on the Seahawks not to consider a long-term deal. However, they must also consider Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner and Jarran Reed, who are also ready to become free agents in 2020.

It may be up to the Seahawks to deal with Clark's unknown future in 2020 by first extending Wilson and one of two other defenders, and then waiting for Clark until next year to take that risk . He is perhaps the riskiest of the four to sign in the long run, not only because of his troubled past before the 2015 draft, but also because passers are the highest paid players (in other words , often the most overpaid) of the league. Trey Flowers now earns $ 18 million per season, while Dee Ford earns $ 17 million, like Olivier Vernon.

The best-paid pass with a Super Bowl ring? Brandon Graham of the Eagles at $ 13.3 million, but it's a contract he just signed. Dante Fowler was a bust that was traded last season and he will win $ 12 million next season.

Passcasters are making so much money because teams are also worried that they will not have passers. Flowers has two Super Bowl rings. Graham played alongside Chris Long, Fletcher Cox and Derek Barnett. The Los Angeles Rams present Aaron Donald and Fowler. The Chiefs had Ford, Justin Houston and Chris Jones on their way to their AFC championship game last season. These teams have also eliminated some smugglers: Flowers, Ndamukong Suh, Jones and Houston, the Eagles with Michael Bennett. There is a shortfall due to salary figures, but also the despair of having the next version of this valuable and valuable knife.

No one can deny Clark's talent, but they can argue against its value at $ 21 million per season. That's why I think it would be better to wait, work on Wilson and Wagner or Reed, then start the year 2020 with the peace of mind of being able to break a label and make an offer. to another, or choose a compensatory choice (s) as compensation.

One of the pieces of the puzzle is at stake: an elite band on a franchise label has been signed again. The Cowboys did not really suffer by giving Lawrence two consecutive tags. I do not think the Seahawks would be with Clark.