Part of the offseason schedule for NFL teams is working on contracts.
We all know QB Dak Prescott needs an extension, currently projected to count $59 million against a tight salary cap.
EDGE Micah Parsons, the next generational pass rusher, is also eligible for an extension but it’s unlikely his situation is near the top of the Cowboys’ list.
Parsons, although eligible for a new contract, the Cowboys own his right for two more seasons should they pick up his 5th-year option, and an additional two years if they choose to use the franchise tag on him in consecutive seasons.
The next biggest name on the list is WR CeeDee Lamb, and he has made a case to be one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the entire NFL.
I stumbled upon this tweet today from one of the pioneers of #NuMedia, Law Nation:
While Lamb finished second for the season, he also inserted himself in 7th place on the top-10 all-time single-season receiving yards list.
The list of accolades for Lamb since being drafted in 2020 is long enough to give Stephen Jones a headache at the prospect of offering him a new contract.
That thought made me think back to other times the Cowboys’ top wide receiver needed to get paid, and how the Cowboys handled it.
Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper was acquired by the Cowboys in a mid-season trade with the Oakland (Las Vegas) Raiders during the 2018 season.
The Cowboys had tried and failed to field a wide receiver by committee approach led by Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson.
They started the season 3-4 and sent their 2019 1st-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for Cooper, with whom their relationship had soured.
Cooper was an immediate boon to the offense and proved to be one of those players who has their best games versus division rivals.
Before the start of the 2020 season, the Cowboys rewarded Cooper’s stellar play with a 5yr/$100 million contract to be their wide receiver of the future.
He only lasted two more years thanks to differences in philosophy with the team, and was shipped off to Cleveland for a 5th round pick.
At the time of his contract, Cooper was the 4th-ranked for his position in yearly contract value.
Dez Bryant
The last great #88 before Lamb was Dez Bryant.
Bryant was also the first true playmaker to wear #88 since the Playmaker himself, Michael Irvin.
Dez was drafted by the Cowboys in the 2010 NFL Draft from Oklahoma State University and was an immediate impact on the team.
Buried in the depth chart behind Miles Austin, Roy Williams, and Kevin Ogletree, Dez made most of his damage by returning punts his rookie season.
From 2011 onward, however, Dez was a force to be reckoned with, eventually earning him a new contract before the start of the 2015 season.
Bryant signed a 5yr/$70 million deal, making him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL at the time.
He was released a couple of years later after a foot injury affected his performance on the field, amongst other differences with the team.
CeeDee Lamb
I bring up Cooper and Dez as the example that the Cowboys are willing to pay their top wide receivers.
They might drag the process out and end up paying more than the original offer after other wide receivers get paid, but they get the job done.
Ranking the top wide receivers in the NFL feels like a fruitless task considering they all bring something different to the table, but it’s safe to say Lamb will get paid as a top-five wide receiver.
As far as annual average salaries go, here are the top five according to Spotrac.com:
- Tyreek Hill, Miami ($30 million)
- Davante Adams, Las Vegas ($28 million)
- Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams ($26.7 million)
- A.J. Brown, Philadelphia ($25 million)
- D.K. Metcalf, Seattle ($24 million)
I predict Lamb will land somewhere near the average annual salary of Adams and Kupp, and well ahead of his NFC East little brother, A.J. Brown.
You guys can stop panicking. CeeDee Lamb isn’t going anywhere. The Cowboys’ history of paying wide receivers has shown us that.