Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb has simple contract demand amid training camp holdout

As expected, Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb did not report to training camp this week while he holds out for a contract extension.

Instead, according to NFL insider Jane Slater , Lamb worked out for two hours in Houston.

A source close to Slater tells her that Lamb is around 195-196 pounds and is "bigger faster, and more explosive than previous years."

The source also told Slater that Lamb has made one simple request when it comes to signing his new deal: "It just has to make sense."

This sounds like a broad answer, but it just comes down to Lamb's worth.

What is Lamb Worth?

Lamb is currently on tap to play out the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, which is worth $17.99 million. However, his overall production says he's worth much more than that, and Jerry Jones is well aware.

"I think CeeDee's one of the best players in the NFL," Jerry Jones said in April, via The Athletic . "I think he's very instrumental because of his position to quarterback success, personally. I think if you look at complementary football, he does it all there for you. He's multifaceted in where we can line him up, the type things we can use him for. He's dedicated in his practice and he's sound physically. That puts him really right there at the top as far as a player. I'm trying to answer your question. I guess the answer is without saying anymore, I think he's one of the top players in the NFL."

The former 2019 first-round pick of the Cowboys reeled in a league-high 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns in 2023.

So why hasn't Dallas paid up?

Jones had been waiting for more leaves to fall.

But now we're deep into the offseason and Jones has seen many trees shake their leaves since he said that in April.

The latest "leaf," and the one that makes a lot of sense to even copy and paste onto Lamb's deal, is the Minnesota Vikings signing star receiver Justin Jefferson to a four-year, $140 million contract. That means Jefferson gets $35 million annually.

Lamb's production doesn't exactly match Jefferson's, but it comes close enough. And from what Lamb said, it sounds like he's willing to meet somewhere in the middle.

It's time to get 'er done, Dallas.

Related: Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb predicted to break iconic NFL record in 2024 regular season