CeeDee Lamb Contract: Timeline Revealed For Extension as Jerry Jones’ Cowboys Prioritize Him Over Dak Prescott

The Dallas Cowboys seem to be struggling on the table with two of their most prized assets. QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb are nearing the end of their deals with no breakthrough in negotiations. Although they are in for a substantial pay rise, the exact timeline is still unknown. Prescott’s status as QB might give him an edge over the negotiations. However, the Cowboys’ front office seems to have other plans regarding their approach to the contract circus.

Calvin Watkins of Dallas Morning News broke the report, stating that CeeDee Lamb might get the priority in contract negotiations over Dak Prescott. Citing his absence from OTAs, although they are optional, and skipping of mandatory minicamp altogether. Jerry Jones quickly recognized that Lamb’s situation was a hold-out and must be addressed before the Cowboys returned to first-team practice on Thursday. But this isn’t the first time a Dallas player has faced a contract dilemma before the training camp.

Chris Canty, a former Cowboys player, shed light on this contract situation revolving around Lamb in a conversation with ESPN Radio “Well, the Cowboys typically like to get deals done before training camps. Like way back when Trevon Diggs got his new deal before training camp last year. They like to do business on the eve of training camps or just before the training camp starts. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if they put on the table a best and final offer for CeeDee Lamb somewhere in the next couple of days.”

From the looks of it, Lamb might be heading toward the right path based on the history of Dallas handling contract negotiations. At the same time, holding some edge in those talks as he was leading the NFL with 135 catches last season. Canty, in his conversation with ESPN Radio, also mentions how Lamb might use the recent Justin Jefferson contract to bargain his part of the deal. Justin Jefferson became the highest-paid non-QB by signing a four-year contract worth $140 million. With WR value surging on the market, this might be the time for Lambs to continue his act.

So, don’t be surprised if Jerry Jones caves and gives Lamb the big deal he wants. But this approach doesn’t mean that Lamb has a bigger role to play for Dallas than QB Dak Prescott. It’s more like the Cowboys want to end Lamb’s training camp fiasco before Prescott, who is expected to take the field this Thursday. As for Lamb, he would be entering the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, worth only $18 million. Moreover, Chris Canty also praised Lamb’s importance on the team, “CeeDee Lamb is the main weapon on the Dallas Cowboys offense.” 

Meanwhile, this “hold-out” is somewhat costly to Lamb, who has racked up $100,000 in fines since last week for skipping training camps. But how will Dak Prescott react to this contract situation when his importance is right now on the backseat?

Will Dak Prescott sign his extension after CeeDee Lamb’s priority?

Prescott is entering the last year of his deal, which was signed in 2021. Thus, not signing an extension before the 2025 NFL season could prompt him to leave as a free agent. However, Prescott, not negotiating his contract extension, could have some ulterior motives, as explained by Jeremy Fowler, “Here’s what could be going on talking to some people around the league. You still have Tua Tagovailoa to get a deal in Miami. Also, Jordan Love in Green Bay is trying to get a deal. Dak has unprecedented leverage with a $55 million cap hit. He could be waiting on those two to get their deals done, and then he comes in at the end.”

Similar to the WR market, the demand for QBs is also increasing. Therefore, if Prescott continues to wait patiently, he might get a bigger bag than Lamb’s potential contract. However, Prescott has been the subject of heavy scrutiny by the Cowboys faithful because of his inability to perform when the team needed him the most. Both Lamb and Prescott have failed to guide the Dallas outfit to their first Super Bowl appearance after 1996. Although Prescott hasn’t disappointed in terms of regular-season QB stats.

That puts him alongside other top-five NFL QBs in the last few seasons. His contributions in crunch matches will be the one that decides the future. Right now, Prescott has no option but to watch from the sidelines as Lamb closes in for a contract extension. With no NFL team currently interested in Prescott, he needs to have a strong season and then reassess his situation.