The Dallas Cowboys and wide receiver Ceedee Lamb still need to agree on a contract extension, but new reports indicate that the organization has not offered the superstar receiver enough money.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Lamb has not been participating in the Cowboys’ training camp as he negotiates a contract extension that would keep him in Dallas long-term. However, previous comments regarding the urgency of these negotiations raised concern about how quickly the two sides could make an agreement.
Lamb is seeking an extension similar to what the Minnesota Vikings wide and receiver Justin Jefferson agreed on, which will pay him $140 million over four years for an average of roughly $35 million each season.
However, Dallas is reportedly far away from these numbers and has not yet offered Lamb a contract that would pay him more than $33 million annually, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Despite the two sides remaining far apart in contract discussions, there is still optimism that a deal will be completed and the star receiver will be with the Cowboys for Week 1 of the NFL season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently spoke about the impact Lamb has had on the team and said the receiver is still the “No. 1 go-to guy,” and the offense will revolve around him once a deal is completed.
“He’s going to touch the ball a ton — for what we’re going to have to pay him, he better,” Jones said, per Yahoo Sports. “I told Mike [McCarthy] things can’t change.”
“He’s got to be targeted 12 to 15 times a game. You got to hand it to him a couple more times. So I don’t see that changing in the least bit,” he said.
Jones’ statements were emphasized by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who agreed and said Lamb needs the ball in his hands as frequently as possible once he returns to the organization.
“CeeDee is one of the few receivers where even when people know he’s getting the ball, he’s got the ability to get open. He’s just got a knack for knowing how to run routes and to beat leverage,” he explained, per Yahoo Sports.
“And to beat what we call ‘bad leverage.’ I haven’t been around a guy that, when teams obviously knew the ball was gonna go to him, he still found a way to get open,” he said.
Similar comments are also coming from the locker room, as linebacker Micah Parsons said Lamb “checked in” on him and will be “suiting up for the Dallas Cowboys” in the first regular season game.
“CeeDee is a part of this brotherhood whether he likes it or not,” said Parsons, per NFL.com.
“He knows he’s not going anywhere. The business side, they’re gonna take care of it — no doubt about it,” he said.
Dallas already began preseason play last week with a loss against the Los Angeles Rams and will have two more games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers before the regular season commences.
Following the preseason, the Cowboys will begin the year with an away game against the Cleveland Browns on September 8 at 3:25 p.m. CT.