Done Deal! Lamb Signs 2nd-Richest Non-QB Contract in History

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have closed the deal on a contract extension with All-Pro holdout CeeDee Lamb that makes him the second-highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.

The deal is being billed as a four-year contract totaling $136 million. The $34 million annual value places him behind only Minnesota's Justin Jefferson ($35 million APY) in that department.

Four years has always been viewed as logical, and fits the in-vogue blueprint. An annual average that exceeds the Eagles' AJ Brown ($32 million) but falls shy of Jefferson seemed logical to many as well.

This deal reportedly includes a $100 million guarantee and a $38 million signing bonus.

Both sides wanted this done in advance of the regular-season opener on Sept. 8 at Cleveland. ... so now this "Game of Chicken'' is over.

Who won? Who lost? That "problem that never was'' regarding owner Jerry Jones' "no urgency'' remarks blurs the lines here. But those involved never viewed the remarks as especially problematic - and that includes Lamb's headline-making "LOL'' response.

Indeed, while Cowboys Nation argued over the definition of "close'' - we believe the four-year part was settled on long ago - COO Stephen Jones, the point man in the talks, has been 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, was set to earn $17.991 million this season if he played on his the final year of his rookie contract. Dallas had contractual control here, as the Cowboys could've franchise-tagged 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.''

The Cowboys selected Lamb in the first round of the NFL Draft hoping he'd develop into a superstar. He (and they) made that happen. Now it's time for that "third D.'' And those in the know saw it coming all along.

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.”