Report: CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys 'not close' on contract extension as holdout continues

As CeeDee Lamb continues his holdout during contract talks, there’s still plenty of work to do. The star wide receiver and the Dallas Cowboys are “not close,” according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill.

The Cowboys’ best offer was just just south of $33 million per year, Hill reported, which would be $2 million less than Justin Jefferson is making as the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. This latest update comes as Dallas continues preparations for its second preseason game of the year against the Las Vegas Raiders later this week.

Lamb’s contract is just one of the storylines for the Cowboys through training camp as Dak Prescott looks at potential free agency. But the talks with Lamb could impact this coming season if his holdout continues, and franchise legend Emmitt Smith called them “unacceptable” so far.

“Without (Lamb) on the football field, they’re putting all the pressure on Dak Prescott now and that is unacceptable because everybody of his caliber should have quality people to throw the ball to,” Smith said on the Blogging with the Boys podcast. “Not no Plan B, Plan C, Plan D guy. He should be in a position, as your franchise quarterback, to be successful.

“Right now, you’re putting him behind the eight ball and that is not right. That’s how I see it.”

Jerry Jones also made headlines last week when he said there’s no “urgency” to get a deal done. He later clarified that remark and reiterated how much the Cowboys miss Lamb, who turned in the biggest year of his young career in 2023 with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns.

I think I got in trouble a little the other day when I said look, we’re not urgent about CeeDee,” Jones said of Lamb, via Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports. “Well, no one appreciates CeeDee on the field any more than I do. But let me say this: He wouldn’t be taking a snap out here today if he had been here. You’ve gotta use your head when you expose key players. Now, that gives the other younger players a chance to do it. We know exactly what CeeDee can do. He worked out with Dak [Prescott] and so, we wouldn’t have him out here. That’s really not anything to do with his contract.

“Dak won’t be out here this afternoon and so the bottom line is no, there’s not that urgency. I understand completely the angst that’s happening when you are anxious about and someone says anything about whether you’re missed or not. Well, CeeDee: You’re missed. But you’re not missed out here competing and it doesn’t put any pressure any place on us.”