The Dallas Cowboys are in the midst of the 2024 NFL preseason as they prepare for what could be one of the most important seasons in franchise history. After not winning a Super Bowl for 30 years, the franchise is entering a season that could determine the futures of many people in the building. After going just 1-3 in the NFL playoffs since being hired, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy enters 2024 as a lame duck with no contract extension.
Nothing short of a deep playoff run can save his job.
Dallas also needs to figure out contract extensions for its three biggest stars: quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and linebacker Micah Parsons. All three are in the final years of their deals and could potentially leave in free agency if they are not given new contracts soon.
Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver CeeDee Lamb Has Been Holding Out for a New Contract
While Prescott and Parsons are with the team during training camp, helping them to prepare for the regular season, Lamb is not. Instead, he is holding out for a new contract.
According to Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, both Lamb and Parsons want to become the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL. If each of them got their wish, it would mean that the Cowboys would have to pay both of them $35+ million apiece per season.
Earlier this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings gave Justin Jefferson a four-year $140 million deal, the richest contract in NFL history for a non-quarterback.
This is the kind of money that Lamb is chasing, and based on his career numbers compared to Jefferson’s, he has a good case:
| CeeDee Lamb | Justin Jefferson | |
| Receptions | 395 | 392 |
| Receiving Yards | 5,145 | 5,899 |
| Touchdowns | 32 | 30 |
As one can see above, Jefferson has over 700 more receiving yards than Lamb, but the Cowboys star has more receptions and touchdowns.
Of course, Jefferson did miss seven games last season due to injury.
NFL Insider Provides Positive Update on CeeDee Lamb Contract Talks with the Dallas Cowboys
On Monday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter appeared on a segment of NFL Live and indicated that the feeling around the league is that Dallas and Lamb will come to an agreement soon.
He said (via Sports Illustrated):
“These two sides, when you talk to enough people around the league, fully expect that this deal will get done.
“It would be a huge upset if CeeDee Lamb is not there for the start of the regular season. I don’t know whether they can bridge the differences, which aren’t that much, this week or next week or the week after, but this deal is going to get done. It would be shocking and utterly stupid if it did not get done in time for the start of the regular season. So they’re going to figure out a way.”
This is certainly good news for the Cowboys, especially after owner Jerry Jones ruffled some feathers with his comments about Lamb’s contract not being urgent.
The fact of the matter is that Dallas needs him if they want to have a successful season and remain competitive in the near future.
A deal should be done soon.
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