the Dallas Cowboys can place the franchise tag on DeMarcus Lawrence, but there is no need for them to use it now.

If the Cowboys are not able to secure a long-term deal with Lawrence by March 6, they will place the franchise tag on their Pro Bowl defensive end, and it will cost them roughly $17.5 million in salary-cap space.

The Cowboys have used the franchise tag five times on four players. The first was left tackle Flozell Adams in 2002. In 2008, they used it on safety Ken Hamlin. In 2012 and 2013, they used it on outside linebacker Anthony Spencer. In 2015, they used it on wide receiver Dez Bryant.

In 2015, they signed Bryant to a five-year, $70 million deal that included a $20 million signing bonus and $45 million guaranteed. In 2008, they signed Hamlin to a six-year, $39 million deal that included a $9 million signing bonus and $15 million guaranteed.

If the Cowboys want to get a deal done with Lawrence before the franchise-tag deadline, they will have to work quickly with Lawrence's agent, David Canter.

If they place the tag on Lawrence, they will have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal. If they don't, Lawrence will play the season on the tag.

The Cowboys went down to the wire when they signed Bryant in 2015 and Hamlin in 2008 in July of those years.

The Cowboys will not let Lawrence see the market.

Lawrence turns 26 in April. With the franchise tag or with a long-term deal, he will be rewarded financially. It could take two weeks, or it could take four months.

At the end of the day he will be a Dallas Cowboy for the 2018 season

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