FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys huge receiver CeeDee Lamb has ended his holdout and agreed to a four-year, $136 million deal that makes him the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
The deal features a $38 million signing bonus, the most important ever given to a large receiver, and $100 million assured, per sources.
Lamb was set to play the 2024 season on the $17.99 million fifth-year possibility of his rookie deal and change into a free agent after the season, however the Cowboys have been in a position to lock him up by way of the 2028 season with the brand new deal.
The Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson tops the market at $35 million a season. The Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown checks in at $32 million per yr, the Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown at $30.003 million and the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill at $30 million.
The deal makes Lamb the highest-paid huge receiver in Cowboys’ historical past.
In 2020, Amari Cooper signed a five-year, $100 million take care of $40 million absolutely assured. In 2015, Dez Bryant signed a five-year, $70 million take care of $45 million assured.
By lacking coaching camp and three preseason video games, Lamb could possibly be fined greater than $3 million. However the staff has the flexibility to rescind the penalty since he was on his rookie contract.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy mentioned Monday that Lamb’s return will enhance the morale of his staff.
“Not solely with what he brings to the desk — we have been speaking about what he does together with his manufacturing — however when that large smile he walks within the locker room, all people’s going to be fired up as a result of that is the sort of juice. He brings, that is that sort of power to our locker room,” McCarthy mentioned.
The Cowboys have three practices this week at The Star in Frisco, Texas, however will work Lamb into motion neatly after he was not at coaching camp in Oxnard, California. Lamb continued to work out on his personal, however the membership needs to scale back the chance of any sort of harm main into the Sept. 8 season opener in opposition to the Cleveland Browns
“CeeDee, particularly, he can run without end. I imply he likes to run. This can be a man it’s a must to lower him down at observe as a result of he’ll preserve going. That is his normal make-up. I am really extra targeted on not doing an excessive amount of with him,” McCarthy mentioned. “Total conditioning, I do not assume I will be involved. It is extra the connection and the little issues, the small print. We have got to get again in working the routes, get again to 7-on-7 and staff. He wants physique on physique, contested catches, have his contact stability examined. All these belongings you actually solely get taking part in soccer.”
Lamb has proved worthy of the No. 88 worn by Corridor of Famers Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin. Bryant additionally wore the quantity. The Cowboys by no means anticipated him to be obtainable on the seventeenth total decide in 2020. In actual fact, they’d him rated because the sixth-best participant within the draft that yr. In his 4 seasons, Lamb’s 395 receptions, 5,145 yards and 18 100-yard video games are essentially the most by a Cowboys receiver, and he set staff information in 2023 in catches (135) and yards (1,749), breaking marks held by Irvin.
A part of his worth is his capability to maneuver everywhere in the formation. In 2023, he performed 499 snaps within the slot with 69 catches for 907 yards and 12 touchdowns. He performed 438 snaps exterior with 66 catches for 842 yards and 4 touchdowns.
He had seven video games with not less than 11 receptions in 2023, most by a receiver in a season in NFL historical past. His 29 catches of 20 yards or extra tied for the league lead with Hill. He had a 92-yard landing catch in opposition to the Lions, which was the second-longest reception in staff historical past (Corridor of Famer Bob Hayes had a 95-yarder in 1966).
He has 32 landing catches in his first 4 seasons, solely Hayes (45) and Bryant (40) have extra in staff historical past. He ended final season with a landing in 9 consecutive video games.
The Cowboys approached Lamb, 25, with an extension in 2023, however talks by no means actually progressed. He skipped the voluntary offseason program for the primary time in his profession.
The Cowboys say they imagine Lamb’s finest days are forward, however will he and Dak Prescott proceed collectively?
Prescott’s contract expires after this season, and whereas the staff needs to signal him to a long-term extension, he might hit the open market as a result of the Cowboys can’t use the franchise tag on him.
With the opener in opposition to the Browns approaching quickly, the Cowboys can flip their full consideration to getting Prescott beneath contract. They’ve had talks through the summer time with Prescott saying they have been moving into the correct course.
With Lamb within the fold, maybe they will progress much more.