CeeDee Lamb contract extension update

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is still holding out from training camp as he awaits a contract extension. Last week, the Cowboys said they were offering deals to Lamb and on July 30, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that they were much closer to getting a deal done with him than they were with quarterback Dak Prescott.

Almost a week later, neither Prescott nor Lamb has a new deal. The only update as of Monday is that the team is still in contact with CeeDee.

Cowboys done talking about CeeDee Lamb contract extension

COO Stephen Jones has said he’s no longer going to be giving updates on the contract talks between the team and Lamb until there’s a deal done. The Cowboys are set to practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, and it appears they’ll do so without their WR1. Though he’s not at practice, Lamb has been working out hard on his own, away from the team.

“This is a business matter, and we all understand that he’s putting the time in now,” said head coach Mike McCarthy. “But when he gets here, we’ll take the, to be honest, we gotta be smart when he gets here. We gotta ramp him up and get him ready to go. But there’s a lot of investment in CeeDee and in Dak, so we have a good foundation here to lean on.”

Prescott, who turned 31 last week, spoke to Lamb on his birthday.

“That led to some talks,” Prescott said. “I know he shared with me he’s wanting to get back, ready to get back, hoping this thing gets done for him. I know I am as well. Hopefully we’ll get him back sooner than later. But I know he’s grinding and working and ready to get back to work.”

Lamb’s teammates, running back Ezekiel Elliott and guard Zack Martin, both have experience with holdouts of their own and understand where he’s coming from.

“We have a really close locker room and I think Ceedee understands that,” said Elliott. “The team understands that Ceedee needs to handle business and CeeDee understands that he has the support of the team behind him. Just stay in shape which it looks like he’s doing and being ready to go once the deal gets done.”

Elliott and Martin both spoke about the loneliness and guilt they felt during their own camp holdouts.

“It’s stressful. You want to be out here with your guys, but I know more than anyone what he’s going through and he’s just got to know that everyone in that locker room has got his back,” said Martin. “We know hopefully he’ll be out here sooner rather than later. And there is the business side of the situation where you are taking a stance for yourself, your family and your career and have to endure criticism from from fans and the front office you once looked as supporters.”

Lamb is entering the final year of his rookie contract, set to make $17.99 million, while the top wide receivers in the league are making somewhere in the $32-35 million range. Lamb ended the 2023 season as the NFL leader in receptions (135), was second in receiving yards (1,749), and third in touchdown receptions (12).

“I don’t think that’s anything I would comment on as far as proximity on meeting of minds, but we’re all talking,” said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.