APRIL 15: Lamb is indeed absent from the Cowboys’ facility as the team’s offseason program begins, Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. That comes as little surprise with plenty of ground to be made up in contract negotiations. It will be interesting to see how much progress is made on that front ahead of OTAs (in May), mandatory minicamp (June) and training camp (July) as the summer unfolds.
APRIL 12: Much of the Cowboys’ 2024 offseason has been defined by the team’s lack of progress on extension talks with quarterback Dak Prescott entering the final year of his current deal. On the horizon, though, are mega-deals for edge rusher Micah Parsons and wideout CeeDee Lamb. 
With the latter having been drafted one year earlier than the former, he understandably represents a higher priority for Dallas. Lamb is in line to secure a massive raise on his second contract, but he is already on the books for 2024 via his $17.99MM fifth-year option. Team and player are positioned to discuss an extension this offseason, but for now that is not the case.
Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports Lamb’s representatives have not yet held any “substantial talks” with the Cowboys about a new deal. The 25-year-old has been eligible for a new deal since last offseason, but his public comments on the matter have included a desire to become the league’s highest-paid receiver. Reaching that goal would require an AAV above Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM figure along with outpacing the value of Justin Jefferson‘s presumed Vikings extension.
As Watkins’ colleague Michael Gehlkin noted earlier this week, Lamb may not take part in the Cowboys’ upcoming offseason program. That process – which begins April 15 – is voluntary, though, and an absence would not carry nearly the same weight as a hold out (or the increasingly popular hold-in) during training camp. With an extension not in sight, it would come as no surprise at this point if Lamb attempted to exercise his leverage to help work out a monster contract.
The Oklahoma product set a new franchise record for receivers in 2023 (135 catches, 1,749 yards, 14 total touchdowns). That production earned him a third straight Pro Bowl invitation along with first-team All-Pro honors. Lamb’s age and statistical output have him positioned to occupy a large portion of the Cowboys’ cap sheet for years to come, but the same is of course true for Prescott (whom the team still hopes to extend this offseason) and Parsons (who is now extension-eligible and will no doubt become one of the league’s highest-paid defenders on his next pact).
As things stand, the Cowboys are projected to have just over $100MM in cap space for the 2025 season. That figure will change dramatically over time, of course, especially when clarity emerges for any or all members of the Prescott-Lamb-Parsons trio. In Lamb’s case, it appears significant progress will still need to be made for a multi-year agreement to be hammered out.
They can’t use 40% of their payroll on 3 players and still expect to win.
I don’t think they will have a choice. And it might even be slightly more than $100 mil next year with signing bonuses. That and no one expects to win in the playoffs with Dak.
Why waste time on an article that something hasn’t happened? You know what else hasn’t happened? Lamar Jackson hasn’t broken his hip. Travis Kelce hasn’t had an affair with Taylor Swifts sister. Aaron Donald hasn’t announced a comeback. Marvi Harrison Jr hasn’t been arrested. Where are all those articles?
You should ask for a subscription refund…oh wait!
Trade Dak. Get a qb this year in the draft. Re invest in Lamb and parsons. Drsft Penix and get an OT on 2nd rd
Trade value how much is Dak worth? Could they get #11 pick from MIN? Penix would be available. Plus MIN would look really good offensively with Dak throwing to JJ, TJ and Addison.
What’s the difference between Cousins and Dak? Time for Minny to get young and cheap at QB, in my opinion.
Honestly not much, I was just trying to think of an actual trade partner for Dak who had a high enough draft pick that would allow DAL the chance to draft Penix. MIN was the only one besides SEA that would fit those parameters. I don’t expect MIN to do something that crazy like.
If Min wants a young, vet QB & willing to pay in the $50m range, as contracts are now; then trade 11 for Tua. A younger version of Dak and Cousins. Solid stats, but struggles in big games!
It’s been an odd offseason for Jerry. If they’re going to let Dak walk next year, maybe they should trade M Parsons for a boat load of picks in 2025 to get a rookie QB going forward. That would clear 2 big salaries off the books. Then extend Lamb so the rook has a stud to throw too. Saw a few different stories recently that Parsons can be a pain. Whether that negotiate tactics, truthful, or a mix of both; might as well get real for him.
With the #24 pick in the 2024 NFL draft the Dallas Cowboys select Adonai Mitchell WR Texas.
DAL cannot afford their current plan, time to adjust, move on from Lamb and draft his replacement in the 1st. Grab an OT like Patrick Paul out of Houston in the 2nd or IOL Christian Haynes from UConn. They need a RB and there will be plenty to grab in the 3rd or 5th round.
Parsons has to get a deal he is to good to let go. As for Dak honestly I don’t see his replacement in the draft. I say let him play out the year and find a “new” QB in free agency next year or trade the farm for a high 2025 draft choice and just roll the dice.
As I’m not a Cowboy fan, I have heard that the team is getting fed up with Parsons off the field. If that’s true, I could see a trade there.
The Cowboys dragging on their feet on an extension for a core player and costing themselves in price is as dependable as the sunset.
Proof of your point. Jerry on Dak’s 2021 big contract:
‘”The truth is most anything that I’ve ever been involved in that ended up being special, I overpaid for, every time, to the end….’.
And then people act like it’s some failing of Dak’s that he makes too much money because Jones backed himself into a corner for no good reason.
Meh go ahead and trade Lamb then.
You have to re-sign Parsons because he essentially is the defense. His pass rush and just being on the field in general makes the opposing OCs have to figure out how to eliminate him from plays. His pressure then allows the DBs to jump routes as often as they do to get the vital TOs.
I don’t like Dak as the starting QB but unless you’re able to trade him for a high enough pick to get one of the top 3 or 4 QBs this year, they might as well let him play out the year and see what the FA & draft options are next year.
If you can get a better package than what KC got for Hill, you can fill a lot of the holes in this years draft. KC traded a then 28 yo Hill for a 1st, 2nd, 2 4ths (one current year, other following year), and like a 6th (following year). If they can get something similar especially from a higher drafting team since Lamb just turned 25 like LAC then they can replace him with a cheaper version. The reason LAC does the trade is because they’d be getting a proven player to pair with their long term QB who is younger than Allen and less injury prone than Williams. If it is another team Dallas can still get a decent replacement for Lamb plus more picks to fill holes.
1st from LAC/other team – WR replacement
1st Dal – LT
2nd from LAC/other team – WR since Cooks is older and Tolbert hasn’t shown much
2nd Dal – trade with someone for 2 3rds this year (ARI, ATL, CIN, GB, LAR, PIT, TB, WAS)
3rd ??? – RB
3rd ??? – C/G
3rd Dal – LB
4th from LAC/other team – DT run stuffer could careless about pass rush anything they provide there is an added bonus
other picks are lotto tickets hoping they hit for like a pass rush project, LB, RT, or Safety
Tackle 1st round RB 2nd round C or LB 3rd round sign lamb long term this year. Then 2025 dump dak sign Micah and draft QB next year