The Dallas Cowboys’ offseason took a much-anticipated hit on Monday when reports emerged on wide receiver CeeDee Lamb appearing certain to follow precedent and skip voluntary workouts beginning next week.
Lamb, who is entering a contract year after a remarkable start to his career which includes a first-team All-Pro campaign in 2023, is negotiating a deal that could make him the top paid receiver in the NFL.
As the front office also navigates negotiations with Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons, Lamb might have to use his leverage and skip the voluntary phase of the offseason. The Cowboys report on April 15th and it sounds like No. 88 won’t be there.
While that in itself isn’t a big deal (first two weeks of the offseason is all about meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation), the fear is that it’ll snowball into a holdout that could go as deep as training camp.
Lamb was recently spotted by TMZ at a CSA sports memorabilia event in Chantilly, Virginia, and was approached by a reporter about his preparation ahead of the 2024 season.
“I’m relaxing, chilling,” Lamb said on a short interview before responding to what he’s looking forward most next season: “Winning, looking forward to winning out there with my guys and making another run at this thing.”
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb says he’s relaxed, working out, ready to win and make another run at it with the Cowboys this season
Lamb is eligible for a contract extension this offseason that could make him the highest paid WR in NFL history #DallasCowboys
(🎥: @TMZ_Sports) pic.twitter.com/KIhe2bO8Qz
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) April 8, 2024
Then, Lamb faced a question some people in Cowboys Nation are wondering about following the latest news about a potential holdout: Will he be in Dallas next season?
The answer – which should’ve been obvious from the start – immediately squashed any questions about major drama ensuing on the team.
“Yeah, I’ll be in Dallas,” said No. 88 with no hesitation.
There’s no question that’s where Lamb’s future is at. It’s silly to believe just because the team is doing its usual negotiating dance (even if the process is wrong), it means Lamb might want out of Dallas in 2024. That’s never been a realistic scenario.
The only thing the Cowboys have to figure out quickly is the numbers so they can take care of the obvious task at hand. Keep the rising star on the team beyond next year.
