What CeeDee Lamb's Contract Extension Means For Dak Prescott
After months of stalled negotiations, the Dallas Cowboys and CeeDee Lamb have finally agreed on a deal. Monday morning, the Cowboys and Lamb inked a four-year $136 million contract extension. $100 million of this contract will be fully guaranteed. This extension makes Lamb the second-richest player in NFL history who is not a quarterback. Minnesota's Justin Jefferson is the only player making more than Lamb.
A Man Amongst Boys
Selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the No.17 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Lamb has exceeded expectations since coming into the league. Lamb has participated in three Pro Bowls, two during seasons where he was an All-Pro.
Last season, Lamb had a record-breaking year, hauling in 135 catches, 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns. This 12 touchdown mark brings his career total to 32. Interestingly enough, Lamb also led the league in most catches, resulting in a first down in 2023. Whatever way you look at it, Lamb deserved the big-pay day.
While it seemed highly unlikely that Lamb would play for another team, it was still worrisome that it took this long for the two sides to agree to an extension. Now, Dallas must set their sights on quarterback Dak Prescott, who is looking for his contract extension soon.
There Is More To Be Done
Prescott, 31, is in the final year of his contract, which he signed in 2021 (four years $160 million), and he could be eligible for another extension.
Prescott has been at the helm in Dallas for the last eight seasons, keeping them afloat year after year. Three Pro Bowl nods, multiple league-leading passing seasons, and six trips to the postseason are just a handful of credible tags on Prescott's resume. While only winning two playoff games in his career, Prescott still has the tangibles to be a winning quarterback.
Prescott also has a lot of leverage in any contract discussions with Dallas. A beloved teammate, fan favorite, and dynamic passer, Prescott is worth just as much as other high-paid quarterbacks in the league, even at his current age.
What can prolong this deal though is that Prescott cannot be franchised tagged or traded, instead, he has to either be extended or the Cowboys run the risk of losing him altogether next summer. If Dallas were not to extend Prescott and force him to play under the cloud of an expiring contract in 2024, this could cause a rift between himself and ownership. The same was seen clearly during Lamb's contract dispute, as trade speculations were through the roof at one point.
Contract Outlook
If Prescott were to hit the open market next year, you could bet he would be getting close to 60 million dollars a year, if not more. Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, and Trevor Lawrence are all currently top players in the NFL, with a per-year salary of 55 million.
Prescott has had just as much success as those three names, and you could bet that he could use this as even more leverage to urge Dallas to close a deal.
The Cowboys have shown they do not mind prolonging negotiations with star players. In 2018, Dallas and Ezekiel Elliott hit a wall when the running back was eyeing a new deal. As you can see, this does not look good for Prescott if he tries to get a deal done quickly.
Perhaps Prescott, being the last big-name quarterback to get paid, could break the market in terms of per-year salary, and that price tag could scare Dallas away. Especially with Prescott's age, they may not want to sign off on a deal that big.
Looking ahead
Seemingly, Lamb himself has advocated for his quarterback to get extended with recent comments he made regarding Prescott. "You look at our numbers together; they are at the top of the charts," said Lamb following Wednesday's practice. "I have no doubt that they will get a deal done because I think ownership knows it is in the team's best interest, and we all want Prescott here. "
Prescott gives Dallas a better chance of competing than most quarterbacks would. Despite his minimal postseason success, Prescott is a big part of the Cowboys' regular season success. He is a fantastic leader, keeping morale at a high level at all times. Teammates trust him and they understand, like many do, that Prescott is not the only factor for the team's woes in the postseason.
The Dallas Cowboys will once again set their sights on cracking the 29-year drought of playing in the Super Bowl as they get ready for the 2024 season. Prescott is their quarterback now, but if a deal does not get done, this Prescott-Cowboys relationship could soon be over. This is a situation that all NFL fans should keep their eyes on going forward.
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