The Dallas Cowboys‘ preseason got a much-needed jolt with a 27-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday. With star players Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb unavailable, backup quarterback Trey Lance (15/23, 151 yards, 1 touchdown) had a chance to strengthen his grip on the second-string QB role while Dallas continues pondering what to do with its free-agents-to-be.
While Prescott has seemingly accepted that this could be his final season in Dallas, Lamb‘s situation is a bit different. The Cowboys are in active negotiations with Lamb’s reps to find an agreement on a contract extension, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is feeling significant heat to get a deal done with his star wide receiver.
Jones: We have to agree on a number
During the Cowboys’ win over the Raiders, Jones indicated that while the parties are talking, Lamb has a different “number” in mind from what Dallas has offered to this point. The longtime owner said that Lamb’s “preparation and work” with Prescott was “great”, and it has given him more impetus than in weeks prior as Lamb remains away from the team, holding out until his contractual situation is resolved.
Jerry Jones on CeeDee Lamb:
“You have to get together and you have get together on a number. I don’t know a number and he doesn’t know a number. So we’ve gotta get that done.”
“I do want to emphasize that he did such great preparation and work with Dak in the offseason.” pic.twitter.com/mbVgrw1biN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 18, 2024
After a season in which Lamb set new career-bests with 135 catches, 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns, the All-Pro wideout wants to be among the three best-paid pass-catchers in the NFL. The Cowboys’ “last-ditch” offer to Lamb includes an annual salary of $33 million, just behind Minnesota‘s Justin Jefferson (who makes $35 million per year). But that offer has not met Lamb’s expectation in terms of guaranteed money or payment structure — so negotiations continue.
WR CeeDee Lamb reportedly believes that the $33 million per year offer is too low for him to re-sign with the #Cowboys 🤔
Cash flow, guarantees, and how the deal will be structured on the front half are still keeping them apart.
(via @MikeGarafolo)
pic.twitter.com/QpjuxggFnm— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 18, 2024
Dallas opens the 2024 season against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 8. The hope is that it has a deal in place with Lamb by that time — but the clock continues to tick on that front, and potentially on the Cowboys’ Super Bowl window.