According to multiple reports, the Dallas Cowboys have picked up the fifth-year option for receiver CeeDee Lamb. The move comes well ahead of the May 2 deadline by which teams must decide whether to exercise fifth-year options on first-round picks from the 2020 NFL Draft.
This is the first time since 2016 that the Cowboys have picked up the fifth-year option on a player.
Then, it was Ezekiel Elliott who ultimately signed a long-term deal ahead of the 2019 season.
For CeeDee Lamb, the option means the 24-year-old will be a member of America's Team for at least two more seasons.
This season, Lamb's base salary has been reported as $2.52 million. In 2024, however, he'll make a fully guaranteed $17.99 million.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME FOR CeeDee LAMB
This past season was huge for CeeDee Lamb. He set multiple career highs in 2022. Lamb finished the season with 107 catches, 1,359 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns.
CeeDee had a stand-out year qualitatively as well.
- He went from being a Pro Bowl alternate for the 2021 season to being listed on the initial roster for the 2022 season.
- He was also named to the Associated Press All-Pro Second Team.
- In 2022, Lamb even received much more consistent praise for his route running.
- Analysts and critics finally decided to respect and acknowledge him as a true WR1.
All this happened during a season in which Lamb endured five games without Dak Prescott. He also, admittedly, had several moments with Prescott in which the two were “not on the same page.”
These facts suggest there are still several levels of CeeDee Lamb's skill, contributions, and impact that fans have yet to see.
Considering that, the decision to pick up his fifth-year option was certainly a no-brainer.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Now, with Brandin Cooks on the roster, many are expecting to see even more standout moments from CeeDee Lamb.
The added depth at the receiver position is expected to give Lamb a bit more room to work. Hopefully, there will be fewer instances of him being double and triple-teamed.
There will, of course, be a position battle among receivers during this off-season.
No one is questioning CeeDee's rank or status, however.
The assumption by many is that the Dallas Cowboys will now work to get CeeDee Lamb on a long-term deal.
Although Ezekiel Elliott was the last player whose fifth-year option was picked up, the last player to actually play on one was Byron Jones.
In 2019, he played on the fifth-year option for $6.2 million. It was Jones' last season with the Cowboys before he signed a five-year, $82 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. He has since been released.
Executive Vice President Stephen Jones has mentioned on multiple occasions that he would like to see both CeeDee Lamb and standout Cornerback Trevon Diggs (2nd round, 2020) on long-term deals.
Picking up the fifth-year option for Lamb has actually opened up the option of franchise tagging Diggs during the next off-season.
The Cowboys' off-season moves are expected to improve situations for Diggs as they likely will for CeeDee.
The addition of Stephon Gilmore is expected to make opposing quarterbacks less likely to completely avoid Diggs' side of the field. This should mean more opportunities for the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback to do what he does best.
