Although CeeDee Lamb said he wasn’t going to make a statement about his contract, he made quite a loud one by skipping out on training camp. Jerry Jones has been quoted saying that they’re “all in” on the team, but without Lamb, are they really?
How can you be all in on a team with three, unsigned stars? Micah Parsons, Dak Prescott, and CeeDee Lamb are all awaiting new contracts, as well as most of the coaching staff. Out of all the talent on the field, it could be argued that Lamb deserves to get paid first.
CeeDee Lamb Refuses to Show Up for 2024 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp
Cowboys Should Pay CeeDee Lamb Before Dak Prescott
Without a quarterback, who’s going to throw to Lamb? It’s a good question, but a negligible one.
If we look at Justin Jefferson, who accumulated over 1,000 yards after only playing 10 games, it’s clear that the QB doesn’t make the magic happen. Sure, it helps. But it isn’t necessary to have an exemplary wideout.
Very few quarterbacks are talented enough to throw tons of yards with virtually no talent at wide receiver. Prescott isn’t one of them. He’s a stellar quarterback in the regular season, but his percentages show how necessary Lamb is to the entire game of play.
During the regular season, Prescott threw 410 completions and Lamb had 135 receptions. That means Lamb made up 32.9% of completions for Prescott. Next in line wasn’t another wide receiver, but Jake Ferguson at tight end. Ferguson caught 71 passes from Prescott, or 17.3% of Prescott’s passes. The two make up 50% of the passes from Prescott.
There isn’t another CeeDee Lamb on that team. Refusing to renew him will be leaving the fate of the team to someone who has yet to stand out.
CeeDee Lamb’s Ability Has Increased Year-Over-Year
When comparing CeeDee Lamb to previous years, he’s stepped up every single time.
Below is a comparison of all of his receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns over the last 4 years. Looking closely, you’ll notice a trend, and it’s an upward one.
- 2020: 74 receptions, 935 yards, 5 touchdowns
- 2021: 79 receptions, 1,102 yards, 6 touchdowns
- 2022: 107 receptions, 1,359 yards, 9 touchdowns
- 2023: 135 receptions, 1,749 yards, 12 touchdowns
This past season, Lamb also broke the Cowboys’ record for all-time receiving yards. If I had to wager, I’d say he isn’t done yet. He’s got more in the tank and it would make the most sense to take care of that engine while it’s got performance like this.
Lamb could be the No. 1 wide receiver in the league one day soon. The Cowboys kicking rocks before signing his contract only makes him more expensive, and only makes the operation more embarrassing.
No one can talk about anything else for this Dallas Cowboys team. Nobody can look forward to training camp when a star receiver is missing. It’s becoming hard to watch the Cowboys dish out every excuse in the book as to why they haven’t given the man an extension.
Holdouts Have Worked for Previous Cowboys
In the near past, two Dallas Cowboys players have skipped training camp awaiting their new check: Zack Martin and Ezekiel Elliott.
Just last year, guard Zack Martin skipped training camp too. He held out for three whole weeks before the Cowboys signed his contract.
Back in 2019, Ezekiel Elliott sat in the same boat as Lamb. The running back awaited a new contract with the Cowboys and skipped out on training camp when he didn’t receive one. Elliott was eventually signed during training camp.
And unlike Elliott, Lamb has the consistency to prove that he’s worth it. The hesitation with Elliott made sense because he had been a hot and cold running back. Lamb proves every year that he deserves to get paid. So it’s shocking to see that it hasn’t happened yet.
The Price Tag for CeeDee Lamb is Increasing
Every moment that the Cowboys delay paying Lamb, and even Prescott and Parsons, the price tag goes up. It becomes that much more expensive for them to keep this team together.
Jefferson’s $35 million contract is looming over the managers of the Cowboys. Maybe Lamb isn’t worth the same amount, but he’s worth a substantial increase from his current $18.5 million.
Every minicamp and training camp day missed is subtracting $50,000 from Lamb’s pockets. However, if they extend his contract, the pay raise will more than likely cover it.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
