The Dallas Cowboys have reached an agreement with first-team All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on DAY, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The 4-year, $136 million contract will place him right below Justin Jefferson (Vikings) as the second highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL at $34.5 million per year.
Lamb will get $38 million in signing bonus, the largest ever given to a wide receiver.
The agreement comes after a rocky negotiating process which included Lamb holding out from minicamp and the start of training camp after missing voluntary OTAs earlier in the year. Per the CBA, Lamb's fines for missing the start of camp can be waived by the Cowboys given he was still on his rookie deal.
Lamb is now set to report to the team ahead of roster cutdown day after spending time away from the team preparing himself for the season, including some work to stay in football shape in Houston.
A first-round draft pick in 2020, Lamb has proven to be the steal everyone thought he was at 17th overall on Draft Day. The money say he was exactly that.
In 2023, the first year of Mike McCarthy running the offense, Lamb broke out as one of the league's top receivers, leading the NFL in catches (35) and ending second in receiving yards (1,749) while scoring 14 total touchdowns, 12 of which were through the air (3rd best). The Cowboys receiver thrived in all scenarios, dominating man and zone coverages while showing improved route running and elite chemistry with Dak Prescott.
Speaking of the latter, Lamb's extension is guaranteed to shift the conversation to...
Will Dak Prescott follow Lamb?
Lamb is only the first of the Cowboys' so-called "Big Three" that have been expecting big contract extensions. Quarterback Dak Prescott and edge rusher Micah Parsons are up next with the former being the most urgent one given he enters a contract year with no-trade, no-tag clauses on his deal, meaning he can hit free agency in 2025 if he wants to.
With the preseason at full go, Cowboys and Dak have had a relatively tumultuous process as the quarterback even stated he's not afraid to play for another team while owner Jerry Jones claimed they might not be able to afford keeping the quarterback.
However, Prescott did add earlier this week that conversations are progressing well and that he's got confidence on a deal getting done.
"You know, I'm going to say it, I want to be here but when you look up, all the great quarterbacks I've watched, they've played for other teams," Prescott candidly told reporters earlier in camp. "So my point in saying that is that that's not something to fear. That might be a reality for me one day. It may not be my decision."
As far as Parsons goes, the Cowboys are still in a good spot as he's under contract through 2025 and the team could realistically use the franchise tag on him in 2026. The front office has shown many times before they're willing to take their time with deals like these, even if that sometimes hasn't been the best strategy for the team.
Related: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones might be making big miscalculation amid Dak Prescott contract negotiations
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