According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, a number of the pass rushers in line to be free agents this offseason will likely be franchised in the coming weeks including Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence, Texans OLB Jadeveon Clowney, Chiefs OLB Dee Ford and Seahawks DE Frank Clark.
Lawrence, 26, is a former second-round pick by the Cowboys in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Boise State. He finished a four-year rookie contract before the Cowboys used their franchise tag on him several months ago.
The franchise tag will cost Dallas around $17.5 million fully guaranteed for the 2018 season.
In 2018, Lawrence appeared in all 16 games for the Cowboys and recorded 64 tackles, 10.5 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles, a recovery and a pass defense. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 9 overall edge defender out of 103 qualifying players.
Clowney, 25, is a former No. 1 overall pick of the Texans back in 2014. He was in the final year of his four-year, $22.272 million contract when the Texans picked up his fifth-year option last year.
Clowney was classified as an outside linebacker, which drops his fifth-year option figure from $13.846 million down to $12.306 million for the 2018 season and comes out to a savings of $1.54 million.
Clowney will be an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
In 2018, Clowney appeared in 15 games for the Texans and recorded 47 tackles, 9 sacks, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown and a pass defense. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 9 overall edge defender out of 103 qualifying players.
Ford, 27, was taken with the No. 23 overall pick by the Chiefs back in 2014. He was in the final year of his four-year, $8.158 million rookie contract when the Chiefs picked up his fifth-year option.
Ford will make a base salary of $8,718,000 million for the 2018 season before becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
In 2018, Ford appeared in 15 games for the Chiefs and recorded 55 tackles, 13 sacks, seven forced fumble and a pass defense. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 11 overall edge defender out of 103 qualifying players.
Clark, 25, is a former second-round pick of the Seahawks back in 2015. He’s currently in the final year of his four-year, $3.732 million contract and set to make a base salary of $705,000 for the 2018 season.
In 2018, Clark appeared in all 16 games for the Seahawks and recorded 41 tackles, 13 sacks, an interception, three forced fumbles, two recoveries and two pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 18 overall edge defender out of 103 qualifying players.
We have them featured in our Top 100 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
