A report from one month ago indicated the Cowboys’ top priority with respect to their three pending monster extensions would be quarterback Dak Prescott. That came as no surprise, considering the market at that position compared to those of edge rushers and receivers. 
Micah Parsons is on the books for two more years, so his contract status is less pressing than that of Prescott or CeeDee Lamb. The latter has been linked to a training camp holdout in the absence of an agreement, but progress on that front is on the team’s radar. Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports Lamb – not Prescott – is Dallas’ No. 1 financial priority at the moment.
Prescott is set to attend the beginning of training camp next week regardless of where things stand with respect to his extension. Lamb’s decision on that front has not been made, though, Watkins adds. The Oklahoma alum has been expected to engage in a holdout for quite some time, considering he skipped voluntary OTAs as well as mandatory minicamp during the spring. Missing practices this summer would result in daily fines, though by virtue of being attached to his fifth-year option Lamb could see those fines waived by the team.
Such a move would come after an extension agreement were to be worked out, and talks on big-ticket deal have long been known to be high on Dallas’ to-do list. Lamb is scheduled to earn $17.99MM in 2024, but a long-term accord will come in at a much higher price tag. The top of the receiver market witnessed plenty of movement this spring, with Justin Jefferson attaining an average annual value of $35MM on his Vikings extension (becoming the league’s top earner for non-QBs in the process). Cowboys owner Jerry Jones previously stated an intention of waiting on similar deals to fall into place before authorizing Lamb and/or Prescott pacts.
Earlier this week, Stephen Jones confirmed talks with Prescott’s camp are ongoing while maintaining the team’s stance on hoping to retain Lamb and Parsons as well. Keeping all three in the fold beyond 2024 will be difficult given the cap implications a new deal for each will have in the short- and long-term future. Lamb’s importance to the team’s offense cannot be understated, though, of course.
The 25-year-old broke franchise records in receptions (135) and yards (1,749) last season, leading the NFL in both categories. Veteran Brandin Cooks resides as Dallas’ No. 2 wideout, and the team has a number of relatively unproven options beyond him on the depth chart. Lamb’s willingness to attend training camp will remain a key story to follow in the coming days, but his stance in that regard will obviously change if a deal is struck shortly.
Jerry knows this is another 1 and done roster and doesn’t want to pay for it. I don’t have a problem w/ that decision.
If only Jerry could admit that it was Jimmy’s brains that built those 90’s rosters, not his.
All the Cowboys care about is winning 12 games a year.
Lamb is the right guy to sign up. Dak will probably be gone and they should trade Parsons before anyone decides a 1st and maybe another high pick would be too much to give up for him. This window is likely closed. Time to move on.
Never give that much cap space to a non-QB.
I tend to agree. I know that Prescott’s not popular, but his position is harder to replace than Lamb’s. Parsons is a generational talent, Prescott is a long term quarterback, and Lamb is a good but not quite best wide receiver. It seems to me that, of these three high priority targets, Lamb would be the lowest.
If the Cowboys net a huge return in a trade for Parsons, it could make some sense. However, they have to consider that one of those picks will be used in attempt first to replace him, and that their other edge rusher is towards the end of his respective career. I think that it’s easier today to find wide receiver talent than either reliable pass rush or quarterback talent long term, and there are usually more faces to choose from in a WR room.
I suppose if Dallas is really trying to sign all three, though, they could start with the one who’s the easiest-or at least, the one who could be holding out (an unnecessary hold-out in his case, I think, as there was never any question that the Cowboys would want to re-sign him on a good deal). I suppose that there’s a line of thought that says that the lowest value contract should be done first, to leave as much room for negotiation as possible, but I can see it the other way too, do I’m not sure how to figure what Dallas’ strategy is. Perhaps Lamb could be the first option to trade, so they’d like to try to re-sign him early and leave more time to look into trading if he doesn’t accept?