The Dallas Cowboys are hard at work getting ready for the 2024 NFL season, which is quickly approaching. However, they have been preparing without the presence of First Team All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who is holding out for a new contract.
Last season, Lamb led the Cowboys with 135 receptions, 1,749 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. He is currently scheduled to play the 2024 season on his fifth-year option, which Dallas picked up before last year. Lamb is to be paid just under $18 million on this option, but he (obviously) wants a lot more.
The three-time Pro Bowler has been holding out all summer and is being fined $50,000 a day for missing training camp.
Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver CeeDee Lamb Turned Down a $33 Million Contract
Earlier this offseason, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones made it public knowledge that Lamb (and linebacker Micah Parsons) wants to be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
As fans are well aware, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson signed a four-year $140 million contract extension. This averages out to $35 million a year, which is the highest salary for any NFL player that is not a quarterback.
The most recent update in Dallas’ contract offer to Lamb states that the Cowboys have offered as much as $33 million a year, but that Lamb has turned that down.
According to those reports, Lamb also wants more money front-loaded into his contract so that he is not at risk of being cut with much of his salary being non-guaranteed in the final years of the deal.
Of course, this is difficult for NFL teams to do, especially for Dallas who also needs to work out contract extensions for Dak Prescott and Parsons.
Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver CeeDee Lamb Is Predicted to Miss the Start of the 2024 NFL Season
While the Cowboys certainly want Lamb on the field for practice and especially for the start of the regular season, one NFL analyst is not so sure that is going to happen. Frank Schawb of Yahoo Sports recently wrote, “Dallas seems to be playing a bit of a waiting game with Lamb. Given that Lamb is already holding out, the sides seem reasonably far apart and the Cowboys in a bind with three huge contract extensions coming up, this seems to be a situation that could impact Lamb’s status at the start of the regular season.
“Prediction: Lamb misses a regular-season game, like Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones last season, waiting on his new deal, which won’t get done during this season.”
As one can see, Schawb does not think that a deal will get done at all this year, let alone before the start of the regular season. This would put the Cowboys in a position to either franchise tag Lamb in 2025 or risk losing him in free agency.
Of course, if they franchise tag him, they could end up in this same situation again next year.
For More Great Football Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and professional football, click here!
