As a fan, it feels like the CeeDee Lamb contract saga will never end, and understandably so. The two sides have been unable to come to terms for far too long now, but new reports indicate we may be towards the end of the dispute.
Over the last 24 hours, we have had a couple of new stories from the media covering Lamb, and while the specifics differ, the sentiment is the same: This will not continue much longer.
Lamb and the Cowboys continue to talk, even with him holding out from physically being there.
Sources: Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb, who has been unable to land the type of contract extension that other wide receivers have, is not expected to report to training camp Wednesday with the rest of his team. Lamb is entering the last year of a deal scheduled to pay him $17.99 million… pic.twitter.com/lK5B64X65o
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2024
The clock is ticking, so it makes sense for Dallas to be ultra-aggressive here.
The fact of the matter is this: CeeDee Lamb is too good to not extend, and despite their media antics, the Cowboys front office knows this.
Again, it seems like the recent reporting backs that idea up, so let’s talk about what these reports are specifically saying.
Offer Increased to Nearly $33M
Yesterday, Dallas Morning News reporter Calvin Watson offered what he has heard about the most recent Lamb-extension movements, and they are promising.
Watson said that the two sides spoke as recently as Thursday night, and that in that meeting, the Cowboys upped their offer to just under $33M per year.
That is a significant number, to say the least.
Lamb would become the second-highest paid wide receiver in football, only behind Minnesota Vikings star, Justin Jefferson.
The #DallasCowboys are offering star WR CeeDee Lamb a new deal slightly under $33M per year, per @calvinwatkins.
The current offer would make Lamb the NFL’s second highest paid WR behind Justin Jefferson ($35M apy).
The Cowboys spoke to Lamb’s reps on Thursday, per Watkins. pic.twitter.com/LwBWvfQT41
— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) August 16, 2024
Unlike some contract disputes, we have never gotten a firm handle on what Lamb’s demands are.
Thus, we don’t know how far apart they still are.
However, it is important to note that Watkins’ news was not the only report to come out in the past day regarding Lamb.
X user and top-notch source on NFL news this offseason, PrettyRickey213, doubled down on his reporting from earlier this week, saying he “reported earlier this week that the Cowboys latest offer was $33.5 million.”
He went on to say that “With last night’s meeting, it sounds like both sides are close to ending CeeDee’s holdout.”
https://twitter.com/prettyrickey213/status/1824562710735925318
Now, I’m not going to tell you whether to believe a social media source like this one, but you should know he has nailed a ton of stories this offseason far in advance of more “traditional” sources.
Additionally, if he’s right that Dallas is at $33.5, it would mean the CeeDee Lamb camp is only $1.5M away from getting exactly what Jefferson got, and that may be their goal.
With that and a Wednesday report by Clarence Hill saying the sides are “optimistic”, it seems things might be close after all, so who is going to budge first?
Lamb Still Holds the Leverage
If there is one thing CeeDee has shown us over the last couple of months, it is that he is dead serious about this hold out.
Do not expect him to cave and return to the team until a deal is reached, no matter how long that takes.
I commend him for it; after a 1,700 yard, 12 touchdown 2023 season, he has earned the right to wait until Jerry and Stephen Jones come on home with a blank check and a pen for him.
CeeDee Lamb WR Ranks
Rank
Receptions 122 1st
Targets 168 1st
Receiving Yards 1,651 2nd
Scrimmage Yards 1,757 1st
Touchdowns 12 t-2nd pic.twitter.com/oy8eK815eb— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 2, 2024
The guy will be a free agent after this season. If he leaves, so does the Cowboys chance at offensive success.
Because of that, his youth, the Jefferson contract, and his impending free agency, he has all the leverage. That much is not changing.
The fact that we are having all this debate is not because of Lamb, it’s because of the Jones-led front office.
They have shown little to no urgency about extending their top guys.
Of course, we saw that fact play out on social media after Jones reiterated that, and CeeDee Lamb rightfully responded in kind.
— CeeDee Lamb (@_CeeDeeThree) August 8, 2024
The front office’s backs are against the wall here. Don’t extend Lamb, and he likely leaves in free agency for nothing, or, you raise the yearly salary to just $1.5-2M more than what you are offering now to get the deal done.
I know that increasing salaries is not the Jones’ favorite activity, but sometimes it is a necessity, and this is one of those times.
Lamb should stay strong on his asking price and wait for Dallas to move.
