Following Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million ($110 million guaranteed) contract agreement with the Minnesota Vikings, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, a holdout for the Dallas Cowboys, is aiming for the big bucks.
The 25-year-old standout receiver, who will finish the season on the fifth-year contract from his rookie contract, did not show up for mandatory minicamp or OTAs to express his dissatisfaction at not having received a deal.
Recently, the irate Cowboy posted a mysterious statement on social media that might be interpreted in a variety of ways.
CeeDee’s Cryptic Social Media Post
With a picture of himself in training gear, Lamb wrote on Instagram, “Starting to Cee the light & it feel real all of a sudden.” There are two possible interpretations for this one-line message.
Perhaps he’s hinting that contract negotiations are nearing their conclusion and a deal could be reached soon. He might also be expressing, though, that he is seeing no deal materialize and that it is now “real” that his days as a Cowboy are over.
But if seasoned NFL analyst Adam Schefter is right, Lamb’s message might be more of a farewell than a “I’m coming back.”
Sources: Deal Not Imminent
In an interview on ESPN’s Sportscenter, Schefter stated, “The Dallas Cowboys are as far along with Lamb as they are with Micah Parsons as they are with Dak Prescott, which is to say, not very far along with any of these players right now.” Lamb is hoping to reach a deal with Minnesota that is on par with or perhaps better than Jefferson’s.According to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, the Lamb agreement is expected to be for approximately $140.1 million over four years, with a guaranteed $110 million.
Unquestionably, the Cowboys’ first-round selection (number 17 overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft is a world-class receiver. At 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns, he ranked second among NFL wide receivers at the end of the previous campaign. Since the moment he set foot on an NFL field, the young man has made an effect.
The Dallas Cowboys’ Problem
The issue in Dallas is that both defensive end Micah Parsons and starting quarterback Dak Prescott are up for contract extensions, and the potential cost of extending deals for all three players appears to be worrisome for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys are prioritizing Prescott’s deal.
You possess Dak Prescott. The
Cowboys are in serious financial trouble because they need to sign three players: Parsons, Lamb, and Fowler. However, from what I’ve heard from sources in the NFL, they want to start with Dak.
Fowler made this statement recently on Sportscenter. They have made Dak’s representatives aware that they are a priority by putting it on the table. Our goal is to attempt to complete a task. Not much has changed in terms of hard currency yet. Their current attempts can be characterized as passive.
The End of a Cowboys Run?
Furthermore, if Dallas’ effort is presently “passive” in terms of their priorities, it may be assumed that it is essentially nonexistent in terms of Lamb’s deal.
If so, it makes sense that the 25-year-old would be using social media to indicate that he’s starting to “see the light” and may even be getting ready to accept a significant career move. With Lamb, the Cowboys have more alternatives than with Prescott and Parsons.
They could give the young talent a “franchise” deal, but since wide receiver compensation rises over time, they might have to pay out considerably more than they would have with a straightforward contract.
In any event, of the three Cowboys, Lamb is the only one who has chosen to hold out, and the Dallas front staff is under pressure to make a significant decision quickly.
