Dallas Cowboys News & Rumors

Contradicting reports from three days ago, Adam Schefter of ESPN seems to be of the opinion that the Cowboys and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb are closer to a new deal than recent reports seem to indicate. In an appearance on the network’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter voiced his belief that a deal would get done before the start of the new season.

Lamb has been spending his time away from the team as one of several premier wide receivers seeking a new deal this offseason. The former first-round pick is set to play out the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, and while that entails a fully-guaranteed salary in 2024 of $17.99MM, the Oklahoma-product knows that the real money lies in a multi-year extension.

There have been conflicting reports about just how much Lamb is seeking in a new deal, with some claiming that the 25-year-old is seeking to reset the market for the position, following Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, whose new deal sees him making $35MM per year over the next four seasons. Regardless of his expectations and those of the Cowboys, Schefter sees the two agreeing on a contract.

“I think the two sides aren’t that far apart on a deal,” Schefter told McAfee. “I don’t think it should be that difficult, but again, it’s (Tuesday), August 20, he’s still not there, still hasn’t gone through camp, so this has not gone the way that everyone expected. My understanding is that the two sides aren’t all that far apart, and somehow, someway, I and others believe that they will figure out a way to bridge their differences so that CeeDee Lamb will be there for Week 1.”

When asked about the ongoing holdout of his star wide receiver, Cowboys owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones told the media that the two sides are having “promising talks,” per ESPN’s Todd Archer. Jones’ comments seemed to echo the sentiment spoken by Schefter.

After the team recently made an offer that would see Lamb become the league’s second-highest-paid receiver behind Jefferson, Jones spoke on his optimism, saying, “Well, I think I am, and when I say that, it doesn’t sound too promising. 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.”

It’s a lot of talk for a team that has seemingly been ice cold in recent weeks concerning key player contract negotiations, but combined with Schefter’s comments, Jones’ optimism may be worth buying stock in. With his holdout affecting season preparedness, Lamb’s deal will be a huge weight off the team’s shoulders, but Dallas will still have the extensions of quarterback Dak Prescott and outside linebacker Micah Parsons to contend with.

In recent days, the Cowboys have made renewed efforts to hammer out a CeeDee Lamb extension. The latest update on one of the team’s three key extension situations indicates plenty of work is still required.

[RELATED: Dak Prescott Open To In-Season Extension Talks]

Dallas has reportedly offered a deal worth more than A.J. Brown‘s Eagles pact ($32MM per season) but short of $33MM annually. The top of the receiver market reached $35MM when Justin Jefferson inked a record-breaking Vikings extension this offseason. Jefferson now resides as the league’s top earner for non-quarterbacks, although a Lamb deal may not need to surpass that mark.

Nevertheless, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes the AAV of the Cowboys’ best offer to date is one of several issues which need to be worked out (video link). Matters such as cashflow and guarantee structure – in addition to an elevated AAV – remain points of contention where further negotiation will be required for a deal to be in place. An agreement for Lamb may be closer than one for quarterback Dak Prescott, but Garafolo’s report confirms there is still a gap to be bridged between team and player.

One of several wideouts seeking a new or upgraded deal this offseason, Lamb skipped out on OTAs and mandatory minicamp. His decision to remain away from the team during training camp has resulted in mandatory fines accruing, but the 25-year-old is attached to his rookie contract by way of the fifth-year option. As a result, those penalties can be waived by the Cowboys if/when a deal is struck and Lamb reports to the team.

Jefferson’s monster accord features nearly $89MM guaranteed, far more than the second-highest in that regard (Tyreek Hill, $54MM). Lamb will likely fall in between those two figures on his pact, but the Cowboys’ best offer in terms of locked in compensation apparently needs to be upped for an agreement to be possible. Money in the first few years of the pact (especially the signing bonus) is also a critical component for team and player; the size of the signing bonus and the length of the contract are central in determining cap hits.

Managing to keep Lamb, Prescott and edge rusher Micah Parsons in the fold beyond 2024 will be a key challenge for the Cowboys. The terms of a pact for each member of that trio – which, in the latter’s case will likely not be known for another year, in spite of team’s public stance on that front – will dictate Dallas’ cap outlook for the foreseeable future. Getting Lamb in the fold in time for Week 1 remains the expectation, but an agreement may not be as imminent as it previously seemed.