Following a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he does not feel any pressure to execute a contract extension with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, prompting multiple players on the team to voice their disagreement.
Jones discussed the ongoing negotiations with Lamb on Thursday, saying that he does not feel pressured to complete a deal anytime soon.
“I don’t have any urgency to get it done,” said Jones bluntly, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The two sides have been negotiating a contract extension for several months but have yet to agree to terms that would keep the Pro Bowl receiver in Dallas long-term.
Dallas recently opted to place Lamb on the Reserved/Did Not Report list due to his failure to show up to camp. This is not an uncommon move, as the franchise is looking to scout another potential player while Lamb remains away from the team, as reported by DX.
Jones’ remarks come as the two sides continue to negotiate a deal that would make Lamb one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history, though it remains to be seen whether he will reset the market with a deal similar to what Justin Jefferson received from the Minnesota Vikings.
Jefferson signed a contract with the Vikings that would pay him $140 million over four years. This was the highest average annual salary for any wide receiver in the NFL’s history, at roughly $34 million a season, per Fox Sports.
While Lamb is unlikely to surpass this number because Jefferson is considered the gold standard of NFL receivers, his contract with the Cowboys will likely be worth a similar amount.
Jones’ comments prompted multiple players on the team to speak out in favor of securing Lamb quickly, with Lamb taking to social media in response and simply writing “lol.”
This post was later retweeted by linebacker Micah Parsons, who is currently waiting on his own contract extension with the Cowboys.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, who is also negotiating a contract extension with the franchise, disagreed with Jones’ comments and said he would prefer to have his first receiving option back on the field with the team.
“I got urgency for it to happen,” said the quarterback, per NFL.com.
Prescott remains involved in contract negotiations but has decided to participate in training camp. He will have the option to enter the 2025 off-season as a completely unrestricted free agent, meaning he could potentially sign with any team in the league if he does not complete a deal with Dallas.
Despite initial reports that Dallas and Prescott would reach a deal early in the 2024 offseason, there has reportedly yet to be any substantial movement between the two sides as the price to keep Prescott continues to rise.
Multiple high-level quarterbacks have already received large contract extensions with their teams during the offseason, as reported by DX, which will continue to raise the price that Dallas will have to pay to keep Prescott with the franchise.
