The Cowboys’ offseason is progressing slowly. Fans are checking the headlines daily to see if there is any new contract news regarding the two biggest stars on the team, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
Well, new information has come out of Dallas, and it seems the front office is prioritizing CeeDee Lamb’s contract over Dak Prescott.
Is this the correct avenue for the front office to take?
Could this decision potentially disrupt the team’s chemistry?
These are the pressing questions that are causing some concern among the fan base.
Why Get CeeDee Lamb’s Contract Finished First?
Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News broke the news that the front office is making CeeDee Lamb a priority over Dak Prescott.
The Cowboys are focusing on getting CeeDee Lamb’s contract extension done before Dak Prescott’s. At least that’s the plan. https://t.co/9HTYDykTrV
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) July 21, 2024
The Dallas Cowboys could see getting CeeDee Lamb’s contract finished first to help get the contract talks with Dak Prescott kicked into overdrive. Having his number-one receiver under contract would make any quarterback happy.
If that wide receiver is one of the best in the league, it makes it that much better.
One potential issue regarding CeeDee Lamb is his likelihood of holding out of training camp to secure his new contract. Fans need to remember that CeeDee Lamb will not show up until he signs a new contract.
Lamb has not been to any off-season workouts with the team.
The Dallas Cowboys will start their training camp on July 23rd in Oxnard, CA. Will the team have their 1st Team All-Pro wide receiver with them? It is becoming increasingly likely that the answer to that question is no.
If Lamb holds out of training camp, it will cost him around $40,000 per day missed.
That is a hefty price tag for CeeDee Lamb to pay, but it could work out in his favor in the long run.
How does CeeDee Lamb Holding Out Help His Contract Situation?
If CeeDee Lamb does hold out of training camp, the team will have to add a new wide receiver at the top spot.
The Cowboys do not have the luxury of having a high-end number two receiver. Not having backups capable of taking over the spot will affect the quarterback position and the offense as a whole.
The West Coast type of offense Head Coach Mike McCarthy likes to employ relies heavily on timing, as do many passing attacks. Not getting the timing down with the actual number-one receiver will cause issues at the beginning of the season.
The offense’s potential issues early in the season could push the front office to finish a deal before training camp. If not, expect a slow start to the season.
A deal finished before training camp will allow CeeDee to be with the team, and the offense will begin the season firing on all cylinders.
What Is The Front Office Thinking Not Signing Their Best Players?
Cowboys fans know it is difficult to read anything the front office puts out about their players. There is all the smoke and mirrors, and waiting until the last minute to get anything done is commonplace.
Dallas has yet to sign CeeDee Lamb, but Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons need to be extended as well. These are big-time players who could walk next year.
Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones insisted on the significance of the contracts, stating:
“Well, those things take time. And we’re talking about deals here… when you’re talking about CeeDee and Dak… somebody like a Micah [Parsons] coming up… you’re talking about two players that aren’t quarterbacks that feel like they ought to be a little bit like Jefferson, the top paid non-quarterbacks in the league,” Jones said on The Athletic’s “Scoop City”.
“And then of course you have Dak who’s obviously his resume speaks for itself. I think he was second in MVP voting last year. He’s just had an extraordinary career here in Dallas. Those things just take time when discussing the amount of money involved. And of course we’re trying to do a little bit play Houdini in how to keep all of these guys around Dak and keep these players we were fortunate enough to draft.”
The statement, “trying to play a little bit of Houdini” indicates that the Cowboys aim to work magic with contracts.
The team and fans would not be facing the current challenges if the management had given contract extensions to these players when they were first available.
Front office, please sign these players, so fans can focus on the season instead of worrying about whether the best players will be on the field.
