The outstanding wide receiver CeeDee Lamb seems to want to become the highest-paid player at his position, and the Dallas Cowboys have been working to find a way to sign him to a contract extension.
Over the weekend, NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo provided an update on the status of the talks between Lamb and the Cowboys. When the two parties got together last week, not much is said to have changed. According to Garafolo, Lamb was offered about $33 million annually by the Cowboys, but he is hoping for something more akin to the $35 million that Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson received this offseason.
According to Garafolo, “my understanding is that it is around 33 and, for Lamb, that is still not good enough.” He wants that to rise since Justin Jefferson is at the top of the market at 35. Additionally, the structure—cash flow, guarantees, and how it will be organized on the front part of the deal—needs to be worked on, according to sources who are aware with Lamb’s philosophy. Thus, much effort needs to be done in this area.
Contract figures should always be regarded with caution because they do not provide all the information. It is also critical to consider the potential bias of the narrative. In this instance, the Cowboys might want everyone to know that Lamb declined $33 million annually without being aware of the exact amount of guaranteed money the team was offering.
Last season, Lamb recorded 135 catches, 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns, which led the NFL. He is legally entitled to demand that he be paid the same as Jefferson. According to a recent report, Lamb is not expressing that kind of desire.
With a few weeks till the start of the regular season, Lamb has still not reported to the Cowboys, for whatever reason.