FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has ended his strike and agreed to a four-year, $136 million contract that makes him the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, ESPN's Adam Schefter learned from sources Monday.
The deal includes a signing bonus of $38 million – the highest ever paid to a wide receiver – and $100 million in guaranteed money, sources say.
Lamb was supposed to play the 2024 season and become a free agent after the season due to the $17.99 million five-year option on his rookie contract, but the Cowboys were able to tie him down through the 2028 season with the new contract.
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Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings leads the market at $35 million per season. AJ Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles is at $32 million per year, Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions is at $30.003 million, and Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins is at $30 million.
The deal makes Lamb the highest-paid wide receiver in Cowboys history.
In 2020, Amari Cooper signed a five-year, $100 million contract with $40 million guaranteed. In 2015, Dez Bryant signed a five-year, $70 million contract with $45 million guaranteed.
Because Lamb missed training camp and three preseason games, he could be fined over $3 million. However, because he was still on a rookie contract, the team has the option to have the fine waived.
The Cowboys have three practices this week at The Star in Frisco, Texas, but will use Lamb wisely after he was absent from training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Lamb has continued to practice on his own, but the club wants to minimize the risk of any kind of injury ahead of the Sept. 8 season opener against the Cleveland Browns.
Current contract blockages in the NFL
CeeDee Lamb's contract situation is now clear, but there are several other contracts still open as the season starts in less than two weeks:
| player | team |
|---|---|
| Brandon Aiyuk, WR | 49ers |
| Trent Williams, OT | 49ers |
| Haason Reddick, DE | Nozzles |
| Ja'Marr Chase, WR | Bengal |
Lamb has proven himself worthy of No. 88, worn by Hall of Famers Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin. Bryant also wore that number. The Cowboys never expected him to be available as the 17th pick in 2020. In fact, he was rated the sixth-best player in the draft that year. In his four seasons, Lamb's 395 receptions, 5,145 yards and 18 100-yard games are the most by a Cowboys receiver, and he set team records in catches (135) and yards (1,749) in 2023, surpassing the records held by Irvin.
Part of his value is his ability to move throughout the formation. In 2023, he played 499 snaps in the slot with 69 catches for 907 yards and 12 touchdowns. He played 438 snaps outside with 66 catches for 842 yards and four touchdowns.
He had seven games with at least 11 pass catches in 2023, the most by a receiver in a season in NFL history. His 29 catches of 20 yards or more are tied with Hill for the league lead. He had a 92-yard touchdown catch against the Lions, which was the second-longest pass catch in team history (Hall of Famer Bob Hayes had a 95-yarder in 1966).
In his first four seasons, he caught 32 touchdowns, only Hayes (45) and Bryant (40) managed more in team history. Last season, he finished with a touchdown in nine consecutive games.
The Cowboys offered the 25-year-old Lamb a contract extension through 2023, but talks never really progressed. For the first time in his career, he skipped the voluntary offseason program.
The Cowboys believe Lamb's best days are still ahead of him, but will he and Dak Prescott continue together?
Prescott's contract expires after this season and while the team would like to sign him long-term, he could hit the open market since the Cowboys cannot apply the franchise tag to him.
With their opening game against the Browns coming up soon, the Cowboys can turn their full attention to signing Prescott. They had talks with Prescott over the summer, who said they were on the right track.
With Lamb on the team, they may be able to make even more progress.
