5 high-profile cap casualties the NY Jets can target this offseason

2. NY Jets target: DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Dallas Cowboys

We're going to finish off this list with two Dallas Cowboys, the first of which is yet another star pass rusher. DeMarcus Lawrence has been one of the better pass rushers in football for years now.

He's been a staple of the Cowboys' defense for the better part of the last decade, but his time in Dallas could be coming to an end this offseason.

Lawrence is set to carry a cap hit of $27 million into the 2022 season, but the Cowboys could save $8 million in cap space by releasing or trading him. They could save even more by doing so after June 1st.

The Cowboys obviously don't want to do this, but if it comes down to choosing between him and the cheaper Randy Gregory, they might have an interesting decision to make.

Lawrence played just seven games in 2021 due to a broken foot and hasn't recorded more than seven sacks in a season since 2018. He's still been a highly effective pass rusher, but the sack numbers haven't been there.

On top of that, he turns 30-years-old in April and is coming off an injury-riddled season. It's hard to justify him being worth almost $30 million.

I'm not sold the Cowboys straight-up release Lawrence, but it is a possibility they could entertain. And when a player of his stature and reputation becomes available, the Jets have to be involved.