Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Lions and Cowboys will not franchise agreements with franchise defensive ends Ziggy Ansah and Demarcus Lawrence before today’s deadline.
- Ian Rapoport confirms the news and adds that Lawrence will not play on a second consecutive tag in 2019.
This means that both are in position to be unrestricted free agents next year.
Ansah, 28, was taken with the No. 5 overall pick by the Lions back in 2013. He played out the final year of his four-year, $18.595 million rookie contract before the Lions picked up his fifth-year option last May.
Ansah made a base salary $12.7 million for the 2017 season before the Lions used the franchise tag on him several months ago. Ansah has already signed the tender worth around $17.5 million fully guaranteed for the 2018 season.
In 2017, Ansah appeared in 14 games for the Lions and recorded 44 tackles, 12 sacks, a forced fumble, and a recovery. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 40 edge rusher out of 106 qualifying players.
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 2017, Lawrence appeared in all 16 games and recorded 58 total tackles, 15 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one pass defense. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 3 overall edge defender out of 106 qualifying players.
We have both players featured in our Top 25 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.
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