A Dallas Cowboys great player is expected to hold out this summer unless they can reach an agreement with the front office for a significant sum of money. The Cowboys need to finish a few major contracts before the next offseason.
The most major question point for the team is quarterback Dak Prescott’s deal. The Cowboys’ decision not to extend Prescott this summer means they will have less cap space to sign elite players to help them in the playoffs.
That decision won’t sit well with another talented player the Cowboys are considering extending, edge rusher Micah Parsons. Parsons has been open about wanting the front management to add talent at key positions so the club can win the Super Bowl. There are apparently individuals inside the Cowboys facilities who would not mind if the team traded or allowed Parsons leave in free agency.
However, there is more possible drama on the way in Dallas. According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, if history is any indication, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb may hold out until he gets a new contract:
“Unless a contract extension is completed, which is likely to make Lamb the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history, he will not play. At the very least, that looks to be the precedent he will follow.
Tory Dandy, Lamb’s agent, did not respond to a request for information on whether Lamb will join teammates at Ford Center at The Star for the Cowboys’ spring practices. But, of course, Dandy and Lamb are aware that attendance is voluntary for the majority of spring.”
Lamb is set to play out his fifth-year option. He is expected to earn roughly $18 million for the upcoming season. According to Gehlken, Lamb’s worth should be over $12 million more, which could explain any potential holdout:
“[Lamb’s] anticipated worth exceeds Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s record annual salary of $30 million. Hill signed the contract in 2022. The league’s salary cap has since increased by 22.7%.
For example, a $25 million player in 2022 would use the same percentage of his team’s non-adjusted cap as a $30.7 million player in 2024. Similarly, the cap-share equivalent of Hill’s $30 million average in 2022 is now $36.8 million.
That’s a terrifying situation for some Cowboys personnel. In a contract year, Prescott must have his best wide receiver on the field. Head coach Mike McCarthy clearly wants his top players on the field after most of his playoff roster from last season was shattered due to cap space difficulties.
The Cowboys aren’t the only elite NFC team dealing with a wide out that requires a large contract. Brandon Aiyuk, a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, wants to sign an extension this offseason. There are allegations that he may hold out if he does not receive a paycheck, and he also demands $30 million each year.
Elite wide receiver compensation currently averages $30 million. The only question is: which teams are willing to pay for it?
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