CeeDee Lamb’s contract saga is entering its final leg. It appears that the Dallas Cowboys are close to agreeing on a new deal with the wide receiver.
Lamb is entering the final year of his rookie contract and has been holding out ever since the start of the offseason training. He refused to show up for practice while continuing strength and conditioning training on the side with specialist trainers.
As the Cowboys prepared for their second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Lamb’s representatives met with the Cowboys front office on Thursday. According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys are offering just below $33 million to their wideout.
Cowboys met with CeeDee Lamb’s reps Thursday to discuss latest offer in bid to end holdout https://t.co/DjlVUFwlGR
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 16, 2024It’s unclear how much Lamb wants, but Watkins highlighted his interests do not lie in becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback like Justin Jefferson. The Minnesota Vikings star receiver penned a $35 million annual deal with a mammoth $110 million in guaranteed money.
Currently, the biggest contract of a non-quarterback is San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa, who signed a five-year, $170 million deal with $122.5 million in guarantees. While Lamb may not want a similar level of cash, there’s the possibility that he would prefer at least close to the Eagles’ $33 million annual payment of AJ Brown.
Stephen Jones hints at working out a deal for CeeDee Lamb and the other Cowboys players
The Cowboys are famous for living it until the last few days to pay their players a massive sum of money. It’s the same with Lamb, Dak Prescott, whose contract will run out after the 2024 season.
Recently, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg called out owner Jerry Jones and executive VP Stephen Jones for being too ‘cheap’ even though the franchise has a value of $10 billion. Whether he heard it or not, Jones spoke about going through every possible measure in the book to sign all the key players of the Cowboys.
Ongoing [and] they’re evolving. I know everybody likes them to be done immediately. As I said, it’s a challenge for us. In terms of working three of the better football players [Lamb, Prescott, and Micah Parsons] in this league. Trying to get them in a situation where they’re happy and it works for us as well.Stephen Jones said, per RJ Ochoa of Blogging with the Boys
Dallas Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on the status of contract negotiations with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott:
"Ongoing. They're evolving. I know everybody likes them to be done immediately. As I said it's a challenge for us. In terms of working three of the better football players…
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 15, 2024It’s certainly a big challenge for Jones to make sure everyone is happy while delivering silverware, which they haven’t done for three decades. Not every franchise can replicate the New England Patriots or the Kansas City Chiefs. Jerry Jones reiterating ‘all in all in’ doesn’t exactly inject confidence into a fanbase’s mind who every year witness the same pattern of disappointment.
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