The Dallas Cowboys’ quizzical offseason has left some major questions facing the franchise.
Among the biggest uncertainties for the Cowboys this season, include what Dak Prescott’s future holds, whether head coach Mike McCarthy can lead Dallas deep enough into the playoffs to remain in his role beyond this season, and just how much Jerry and Stephen Jones are going to need to pay Micah Parsons.
After sitting out the top of the free agent market, and watching the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Kirk Cousins, and Jared Goff reshape the quarterback market, re-signing Prescott may prove exponentially more difficult — and expensive for the Cowboys.
However, extending Prescott might not be the Cowboys’ most pressing need as training camp looms.
Why CeeDee Lamb Could be Dallas Cowboys’ Top Priority
The Cowboys’ commitment to moving forward with Prescott beyond this upcoming season appears lukewarm, at best.
After all, despite the fact that Prescott has averaged 3,682 passing yards with 25.2 touchdowns to 9.2 interceptions through his first eight seasons, Dallas has never made it out of the NFC Divisional round with him behind center.
As a result, the Cowboys have allowed the question over Prescott’s future to loom over this entire offseason rather than beating the likes of Lawrence and Goff to the market.
If the Cowboys are unconvinced that Prescott is capable of making a legitimate Super Bowl charge, and have sights set on next offseason’s veteran quarterback market, re-signing wide receiver CeeDee Lamb — who plays a position which is quickly becoming second-most vital to an offense’s success, could take precedence.
Pro Football Focus’ Thomas Valentine suggests a Lamb extension is the Cowboys’ biggest priority before training camp gets underway.
“This one doesn’t need too much explanation,” Valentine writes for PFF. “Lamb has been on an upward trajectory since he entered the league, but the former first-round pick reached superstardom in 2023, catching a league-high 135 passes for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns in the regular season. His 91.1 PFF overall grade was the highest of his career and the third highest in the NFL in 2023.
“Lamb’s connection with quarterback Dak Prescott is the fulcrum of the Cowboys’ offense. Contract negotiations with Prescott are in limbo, but Dallas needs to lock up one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.”
Securing Lamb’s future would prevent one of the premier players at a premium position hitting the market, and should Prescott return beyond 2024, ensure that this duo remains a focal point of the Cowboys’ offense in coming years.
Similarly, if the Cowboys move on from Prescott after the upcoming season, any veteran quarterback with the possibility of having Lamb in their arsenal could push Dallas up their priority list in free agency.
Extending Lamb won’t be cheap, as Spotrac projects the star receiver’s market value in the neighborhood of $34 million, annually. But, a Lamb extension could pay significant dividends for the Cowboys into the future.
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