As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for their 2024 NFL regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns, set to take place in just over two weeks, attention has swiftly turned to the contract situations involving two of their marquee players: CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott.
CeeDee Lamb, who is completing his rookie contract, has been a focal point throughout the offseason. The 25-year-old wide receiver led the league last season with 135 catches and has become an indispensable weapon for the Cowboys’ offense. However, Lamb has notably held out of Dallas' entire offseason program, adding a layer of urgency to his contract negotiations.
Dallas has reportedly extended an offer to Lamb "slightly under $33 million per season." This figure positions Lamb's potential new deal just above the annual salary of Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, who earns $32 million a year, but still under recent blockbuster deals like Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings, which includes $110 million guaranteed. Such figures underscore the high stakes involved in securing Lamb's future with the team.
Team owner Jerry Jones has expressed cautious optimism about the status of negotiations. "We're in good shape there. We're having good talks. I think I am [optimistic]," Jones remarked, suggesting that ongoing discussions are making headway. He added, "The facts are that I believe we'll come together. I don't want to speak for him. That's what I'm trying not to do. But we wouldn't have offered him what we've offered him if we didn't want him to be here."
Adding another layer to the Cowboys' off-field considerations is quarterback Dak Prescott. Entering the final season of his four-year, $160 million contract, Prescott's deal includes both a no-franchise-tag clause and a no-trade clause. The 31-year-old quarterback has the potential to become an unrestricted free agent if a new agreement isn't reached by next offseason, a prospect that would undoubtedly impact the Cowboys' strategic planning.
Jones shed light on the team’s approach to dealing with existing contracts while in-season. "Well again, we're just continuing to talk," he stated, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the discussions. He elaborated, "The thing is there, since we're really in-season, practicing, doing all those things, we're operating under the existing contract really good. One of the things that the fans should really understand is that nine times out of ten, these are existing contracts that you have in place. You should be able to operate under those, but we've gotten it now in the NFL -- other teams are dealing with it -- with some time on the contract, you still might have a contract discussion. And that's what we're doing. None of us -- player or team -- want to hurt the preparation or likelihood of playing at your best."
As the clock ticks down to the season opener and contract deadlines loom, the Cowboys find themselves at a critical juncture. Balancing the immediate goal of starting strong against the Browns with the longer-term objective of securing their top talent will be a tightrope act. All eyes will be on how these negotiations unfold, as the outcomes will significantly shape the team’s trajectory not just for this season, but for years to come.