Cowboys Offer to CeeDee Revealed: 'Still A Little Low'?

The Dallas Cowboys' contract extension offers to All-Pro holdout CeeDee Lamb are "fair'' in the eyes of team management ... but obviously "still a little low'' in the eyes of Lamb himself.

Dallas' top offer so far is "not yet at $33 million annually,'' writes the Fort Worth Star-Telegram , a detail that may further clarify just how "close'' the two sides are to a deal we continue to view as inevitable.

Four years is logical, and fits the in-vogue blueprint. An annual average that exceeds the Eagles' AJ Brown ($32 million) but falls shy of the Vikings' Justin Jefferson ($35 million) seems logical to many as well.

Split the APY difference at $33.5 million? That may be where we are going as both sides would like this done in advance of the regular-season opener on Sept. 8 at Cleveland. ... so now in this "Game of Chicken'' it's almost time for somebody to budge.

That "problem that never was'' regarding owner Jerry Jones' "no urgency'' remarks? Those involved never viewed that as especially problematic - and that includes Lamb's headline-making "LOL'' response.

Indeed, while Cowboys Nation argues over the definition of "close,'' COO Stephen Jones, the point man in the talks, is already talking about Lamb's involvement in the Week 1 game plan - with a "promise'' of sorts that he'll get the deal done.

Said Stephen, suggesting Lamb needs "12 to 15 targets'' per game: "He's going to touch the ball a ton. For what we're going to have to pay him, he better.”

Lamb, who last year led the NFL in receptions (135) and totaled 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns, is set to earn $17.991 million this season as he plays on his the final year of his rookie contract. Dallas has contractual control here, as the Cowboys can franchise-tag him for 2024, but that would add real "angst'' (one of Jerry's pet words during this process) ... and unnecessary angst, too, as the plan all along here was "Draft, Develop and Dollars.''

Related: ‘Not Winners!’ Dez Rips Jerry On ‘CeeDee ‘Urgency’

The Cowboys selected Lamb in the first round of the NFL Draft hoping he'd develop into a superstar. He (and they) made that mappen. Now it's time for that "third D.''

The Cowboys locker room, by the way, knows the drill.

Said Micah Parsons: “CeeDee is a part of this brotherhood whether he likes it or not. He knows he’s not going anywhere. The business side, they’re going to take care of it. No doubt about it.

“On Week 1, he will be suiting up for the Dallas Cowboys.”