Talks between the Cowboys and CeeDee Lamb are expected to pick up this summer. The All-Professional extensive receiver is in a contract yr, however so is Dak Prescott. Though Micah Parsons appears high quality together with his extension talks coming subsequent yr, a latest rumor pointed to the Cowboys placing Prescott above Lamb in their extension queue.
Prescott definitely took his time maximizing his leverage throughout his first spherical of negotiations, which spanned three offseasons, and the standout quarterback carries appreciable leverage this time round. Dak’s scenario holding up Lamb’s may very well be tough for the Cowboys, who’re dealing with the chance of three gamers pushing for position-record extensions. If no extension comes, Lamb ought to be anticipated to check the workforce in the way in which Zack Martin did final yr.
Lamb is just not anticipated to indicate up for coaching camp until he has an extension in place, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins. This may not be a surprising transfer, because the fifth-year wideout skipped minicamp.
After all, that drew barely a $100K high quality. Gamers who skip coaching camp are topic to $50K fines for every day missed. Nick Bosa, nonetheless, offered a blueprint to such a street not costing a participant within the hold-in period. Bosa held out, however the 49ers waived his fines. Groups are now not allowed to waive fines for gamers, per the 2020 CBA, however an exception exists for gamers on rookie contracts. Lamb qualifies, as he’s tied to a fifth-year possibility.
The Cowboys had been unable to waive Martin’s fines throughout his 2023 holdout, however the workforce buckled and turned the ultimate two years of his contract into a fully guaranteed agreement. Martin obtained $36.85MM assured final summer time. Lamb is probably going angling for a contract at or very near the Justin Jefferson degree. Contemplating the Vikings gave Jefferson $26M more in guaranteed money than any other wide receiver and $36M extra absolutely assured than any wideout secured, the Cowboys have a sophisticated negotiation coming.
Cowboys officers have stated they don’t wish to set markets with their extensions, Watkins provides. Which may be a problem because of the leverage and/or caliber of gamers with whom they are going to negotiate. Progress stays elusive in talks with Prescott and Lamb.
Prescott can’t be franchise-tagged or traded, and after one other restructure, the Cowboys would face a $40.1M lifeless cash invoice if they don’t lengthen him by the beginning of the 2025 league yr. The Cowboys are preparing to make a strong offer, however Prescott performed hardball throughout his first spherical of negotiations. It will shock if the eighth-year vet didn’t carry forth the same plan, particularly because the QB market has hit $55M per yr ($15M north of Dak’s AAV), this time round.
A contract that bridges the hole between the ensures Jefferson and A.J. Brown secured can be smart for the Cowboys, although they undoubtedly might have signed Lamb for cheaper had they done a deal in 2023. Dallas has obtained criticism for delays with Lamb and Prescott, and if Parsons negotiations do begin in 2025, he will probably be in a contract yr as nicely. Whereas the Cowboys have acted early on extensions (Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Ezekiel Elliott), they haven’t finished so for a first-rounder in 5 years.
Jefferson secured $110M assured, topping Brown’s earlier WR commonplace of $84M. Tyreek Hill‘s $52.5M assure at signing held the WR lead till Jefferson’s whopping $88.7M quantity surfaced. The Cowboys have by no means assured a receiver greater than $40M at signing, and so they escaped the opposite $20M assured in Amari Cooper‘s deal by buying and selling him to the Browns.
A Lamb payday factored into that commerce, with Jerry Jones citing the elder WR’s contract as the reason for the trade. Lamb, 25, has taken off since Cooper’s exit, although the Cowboys have run into some bother discovering constant receiving assist over the previous two seasons.
Lamb stated in January he needed to become the NFL’s highest-paid receiver. Three receivers — Jefferson, Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown — have since raised the bar, bringing excellent news for the Oklahoma alum. The Cowboys have one of many trickier contract gluts in latest reminiscence. In the event that they stick with extending Prescott first, Lamb’s resolve will probably be examined if/as soon as a holdout commences.