Signing CeeDee Lamb Is a Race Dallas Cowboys Must Win

The Dallas Cowboys seem all too willing to let talent slip away. Doing so with receiver CeeDee Lamb would be a critical mistake.

Jan 7, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) runs past / Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys are staring down the barrel of three potential market-setting extensions. Quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb, and edge rusher Micah Parsons are all among the best in the sport at their positions, and are each coming off of incredible seasons.

Yet, owner Jerry Jones has seemed to balk at giving Prescott the pay day he’s earned, and a recent report that Parsons has “worn thin” during his time in Dallas don’t inspire optimism.

The Cowboys may be dead set on playing hardball and teetering on the precipice of a rebuild. Regardless of their plays, they can’t let their star receiver slip away.

Jan 7, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) runs past / Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The quickest way to “solve” the Lamb problem was to sign him yesterday. The second-quickest would be to sign him right now. As people begin to ask whether Lamb will be present for offseason workouts or hold out for a bigger deal, Jones can end all the fuss with a contract worth signing.

With Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill bringing in $30 million per year and Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams just $2 million behind, the ballpark for Lamb begins. While Spotrac lists his market value at four years and $115 million ($28.8 million per year), it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take the lead in total value, average per year, total guarantees, or a combination of the three.

He’s worth it.

In 2023, Lamb cemented himself as one of the league in receptions en route to 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. He surpassed 150 yards four times, including a 227-yard performance to epitomize his game-breaking talents.

Lamb can take over games and impact every level of the field, without the off-field or medical red flags that can put doubt in a franchise’s mind. He’s also cheaper now than he will be in a matter of months.

Dallas can choose to extend Lamb now, allowing them to get ahead of the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings, who may be in the market to extend star targets of their own. If the Cowboys think paying Lamb is a chore now, just wait until Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk get paid.

If money isn’t the issue, the only other concern would be the competitive window that Dallas might close – voluntarily. If Prescott hits free agency, the Cowboys will almost certainly pivot to a rebuild, and Jones may not want to pay top dollar for seasons spent in the cellar.

That, too, would be foolish.

The teams without franchise quarterbacks spend their years hoping that the quarterback they choose is the right one, and that their supporting cast is good enough to give him a solid chance at success. The list of talents in the NFL right now that would be more beneficial to a rookie quarterback is incredibly shot.

Lamb is an elite receiver at the top of his game and seems totally willing to keep playing for America’s Team. Meeting his price is good for the Cowboys of today and tomorrow, and would give some confidence to the notion that Dallas isn’t willing to surrender its sense of competitiveness.