The Dallas Cowboys are the talk of the NFL today due to their announcement that they have agreed to a long-term contract extension with First Team All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. After months of negotiating, Lamb and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year $136 million contract extension with a $38 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed.
The deal makes Lamb the second-highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL after Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who signed a four-year $140 million deal earlier this year. It also ensures that Dallas will start the 2024 NFL season with their best offensive playmaker, something that they desperately needed.
Even with CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas Cowboys Have Questions at Wide Receiver
Having Lamb back is a major boost for the Cowboys offense which is lacking in quality depth behind Lamb. Brandin Cooks had a solid season last year with 54 receptions for 657 yards and eight touchdowns, but his receiving yards total has decreased in each of the past four seasons.
Michael Gallup had 34 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns, but he was released and then signed by the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this year before suddenly retiring from the NFL.
Jalen Tolbert, a former third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has not developed into the player Dallas hoped he would. Last season, he had just 22 receptions for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
Obviously, there was a reason that Lamb got targeted so much last season and earned the contract that he received. But if the Cowboys are to be successful in 2024 and make the playoff run Mike McCarthy needs to save his job, they may need more help.
The Dallas Cowboys Were Named as a Possible Trade Destination for Aaron Rodgers Favorite Allen Lazard
This morning, respected NFL analyst Bill Barnwell released a list of players he believes could be traded before the deadline this season. One of these players is New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard, who is a favorite of four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.
He is also one of McCarthy’s former players from his days with the Green Bay Packers.
Barnwell argues that the Cowboys would be a logical trade destination for Lazard because, “Lazard originally joined the Packers during Mike McCarthy’s final year with the franchise in 2018, so while there wasn’t much crossover between the two, there’s at least some level of familiarity. The Cowboys also need depth at wide receiver after cutting Michael Gallup; their top two starters are in the midst of a holdout (CeeDee Lamb) and battling a sore knee (Brandin Cooks).
“Acknowledging that the Jets would again be eating a significant portion of the deal, a fresh start for Lazard would make sense for both sides.”
Obviously, the Lamb holdout is no longer an issue, but Cooks’ knee soreness is. As established above, Dallas really has no depth at wide receiver.
Would Allen Lazard Be a Good Fit for the Dallas Cowboys?
Lazard is coming off of the worst season of his professional career (other than his rookie season in which he appeared in just one game). With Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Trevor Siemian as his quarterbacks, Lazard caught just 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown.
Prior to 2023, though, his production had increased each year for three consecutive years. In 2022, his final year with the Packers, Lazard had 60 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns. In 2021, while playing second-fiddle to Davante Adams, he had 40 receptions for 513 yards and eight touchdowns.
Lazard’s 2023 stats may turn some off to the idea of acquiring him, but it should be noted that he played with three quarterbacks that will either be backups elsewhere in the NFL this season or not on a roster at all.
Pairing him with Dak Prescott and having him opposite of Lamb could be a big boost for the offense.
Additionally, he has no guaranteed money left on his contract after this year, so there would be no long-term financial consequence if it did not work out.
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