Rich Eise͏n didn’t mince words when ͏ex͏pre͏ssing disbelief at the Dallas Cowboys‘ delay in s͏ecu͏ring ͏CeeDee Lamb‘s co͏ntract exten͏sion. Especially in light of Jaylen Waddl͏e’s groundbreaking deal with the Miami Dolphi͏ns. Waddle’s newly in͏ked 3-year extension͏, valu͏ed at $84.75 million with $76 million guaranteed, vaults him into the upper echelon of NFL wide͏ ͏receivers. Eisen’s incredulity was pa͏lpable as he dissected͏ ͏the implicatio͏ns for Lamb and the Cowboys on The R͏ich Eisen Show podcast.

Eisen highlighted the urgency for these teams to act, asking, “What are they doing? What are they doing? CeeDee Lamb’s going to have to get paid. Yes. Justin Jefferson is going to have to get paid. Mike Florio, our colleague at Pro Football Talk, is reporting and is saying that the Vikings, while they were trading up, trying to trade up for Drake Maye, the Patriots are saying no thanks.”

Addressing the rumors about the Vikings’ plans, Eisen noted, “Justin Jefferson may be saying, listen, I want to be paid like a quarterback… his numbers through the first few years of his career… are so impressive. He set again a record for the best numbers of a wide receiver in the history of the NFL through his first four seasons.” He suggested that Minnesota’s reluctance to set a new market standard might be causing the delay in Jefferson’s extension.

Transitioning to the situation in Dallas, Eisen scrutinized the Cowboys’ treatment of Lamb, asserting, “Why is CeeDee Lamb placed in the category of needing to see more to decide whether he’s the… part of a championship run for the Dallas Cowboys?”. He underscored Lamb’s pivotal role in the team’s aspirations and questioned Jerry Jones’ rationale for hesitating on a deal.

Eisen concluded with a sharp reminder about market dynamics: “What are you waiting on? It’s only going to be more expensive. The Eagles just made it more expensive for you.” He emphasized that Waddle’s new contract, alongside deals for players like A.J. Brown, is raising the stakes, urging teams like the Cowboys to act swiftly.

The Vikings and Cowboys vie to make CeeDee Lamb and Jefferson the NFL’s richest

While Waddle joins the ranks of top earners. The Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys face larger financial challenges this offseason. They are focused on retaining their star wideouts, CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson.

Lamb, crucial to the Cowboys’ offense, and Jefferson, boasting an impressive start to his career, are both on the brink of monumental contracts as they approach their age-25 seasons. With contracts expiring, they eye each other as potential rivals for the title of the highest-paid receiver in league history.

Despite their age and accomplishments, Lamb and Jefferson face daunting benchmarks set by recent deals. This includes Amon-Ra St. Brown’s $120 million contract and A.J. Brown’s $32 million average annual salary. Both teams have substantial cap space, but navigating extensions for key players like Dak Prescott poses challenges, especially for the Cowboys.

As the standoff unfolds, the first to sign will reset the market, setting off a chain reaction in receiver contracts. Meanwhile, Jaylen Waddle’s deal adds pressure on teams to manage cap space effectively. Ultimately, Lamb and Jefferson remain focused on each other as they prepare to secure their places among the league’s highest-paid receivers.