The Dallas Cowboys and two of their stars, quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, have a future that hangs in limbo.
While the two stars have not threatened to take their talents elsewhere, they struggle to get deals done with their team.
Star WR CeeDee Lamb did not participate in the Dallas Cowboys’ offseason activities
Lamb opted out of the Cowboys’ offseason activities ahead of a crucial 2024 season for the organization. Offseason activities for the Cowboys included a mandatory minicamp. Lamb’s absence from the minicamp could result in over $100,000 in fines.
Should Lamb play without any new contract, he would make just under $18 million on the fifth-year option. Lamb could be franchise-tagged by the organization in 2025.
An $18 million salary for Lamb is still a massive value for the Cowboys, hence Lamb’s continued holding out. Lamb has a legitimate argument to be considered one of the best wide receivers in the league, yet an $18 million salary ($17.99 million exactly) would have several receivers who have never been close to the level of Lamb’s production on the field making more than him. Those receivers would be:
- Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars) ($18 million)
- Diontae Johnson (Carolina Panthers) ($18.355 million)
- Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) ($20 million)
- Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans) ($23 million)
- Michael Pittman Jr. (Indianapolis Colts) ($23.333 million)
- Amari Cooper (Cleveland Browns) ($20 million)
Lamb led all players in receptions for the 2023 season by a wide margin. His 135 receptions was 16 ahead of the No. 2 and No. 3 overall spot.
Lamb was just 50 yards back from leading the league in yards receiving as well. Only Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins had more yards receiving than Lamb. Similarly, only Hill and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had more touchdown receptions than Lamb (13 to Lamb’s 12).
How long will CeeDee Lamb hold out from Dallas Cowboys activities?
Lamb was already absent from offseason activities, but according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, Lamb is also expected to be absent from the team’s training camp in Oxnard, Calif. assuming the two sides don’t reach a deal.
In the past, star Cowboys players like running back Ezekiel Elliot and offensive lineman Zack Martin have successfully held out from the Cowboys until they got their desired contracts. Those two players also held out into training camp like Lamb plans on doing.
Lamb has an argument to be considered more valuable to the team than either of those players were at the time. His league-leading or near-league-leading numbers set Cowboys single-season records for receptions and yards receiving.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has faith that CeeDee Lamb will reach a deal with the organization
Despite what looks like no end in sight for Lamb and the Cowboys, quarterback Dak Prescott has faith in Lamb’s future with the team according to an article from Pro Football Talk.
“CeeDee’s going to be ready,” Prescott said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “A player like that, an athlete like that he makes my job easier. Trust me, we’ll be just fine.”
Lamb recently said he would refuse to answer questions about his contract negotiations with the Cowboys during his youth football camp.
With fellow elite wide receivers around the league like Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles earning massive contracts worth more than $30 million a year, it could be a while before Prescott’s wishes come true.
