Philadelphia Eagles could make a Dallas Cowboys extension with CeeDee Lamb a lot more difficult
Last week, we learned that CeeDee Lamb, who appears to be in the midst of contract discussions with the Dallas Cowboys, may be unable to play on the field during offseason exercises. That is a mild form of a holdout.
Lamb is coming off the most statistically successful season by a wide receiver in franchise history, in terms of individual accomplishments. This is his second offseason eligible for an extension, and it stands to reason that not signing one last year will result in higher numbers on his new contract.
This is due to Lamb’s performance last season, as well as what could be in store for the future. Other notable wideouts such as Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and Brandon Aiyuk are all eligible for new contracts, and it stands to reason that one or more of them will sign, most likely for at least $30 million per year (the deal that Lamb was expected to receive earlier this offseason).
We’ve identified four individuals who could increase Lamb’s total if they sign first (the rules of supply and demand are what they are), but a fifth is a wildcard. Unfortunately, it is a player on a squad that has previously demonstrated high levels of aggression in an attempt to beat the market’s rise before it is too late.
The Eagles might significantly complicate the Cowboys’ process of negotiating a CeeDee Lamb deal.
Throughout recent history, the Philadelphia Eagles have demonstrated an elite capacity to outperform the market on various deals. Simply put, they recognize that paying early usually results in paying less in the long term.
Last offseason, they paid quarterback Jalen Hurts after his MVP-caliber season in 2022. Hurts became the first player to reach an AAV of $50 million per year, a number that was surpassed by three more players in the following months. Conversations now appear to be in the $60 million per year level, proving the point even further.
However, this discussion is about wide receivers, not quarterbacks, and the Eagles have one who is eligible for a contract extension for the first time, DeVonta Smith. According to ESPN, Smith is a strong possibility for Philly’s next big contract extension.
There is no urgent timeframe for the two sides to meet. Smith is under contract until 2024, with a basic salary of just over $1 million. According to OverTheCap, the Eagles have until May 2 to exercise Smith’s rookie contract’s fifth-year option, which would pay him about $16 million for the 2025 season.
However, Philadelphia has a long history of signing key players as soon as possible, in part because they understand the price will only rise. With a handful of top-tier receivers available for new contracts, like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, there’s certainly an added motivation to work something out with Smith before the market resets.
Everything in the second paragraph has helped the Eagles preserve financial flexibility over the past decade and change. They recognize that a certain level of aggression is required when building out your roster, and that possessing it provides the maximum level of escapability in comparison to the league’s big-time contract spots.
Interestingly, Smith was selected with the pick that was initially assigned to the Cowboys during the 2021 NFL Draft. Dallas traded back with Philadelphia, moving from 10 to 12 (that pick went from San Francisco to Miami to Philly and finally to Dallas) so that the Eagles could draft him. The irony of Smith also costing them on the CeeDee Lamb front speaks for itself.
But how can it accomplish that? Lamb is a much more accomplished player than Smith, so whatever he signs for will eventually use as leverage in Lamb’s discussions with the Cowboys. As previously stated, the Eagles are willing to spend more now in order to avoid paying more later, and if they offer Smith anywhere near a $30 million AAV, the Cowboys will have to considerably increase their offer for their own top wideout.
And we’re just talking about DeVonta Smith. If and when the other receivers we named sign new contracts, the price, as ESPN literally stated, would only rise. There can be debates over whether Lamb is superior to the other names mentioned, but once again, the laws of supply and demand speak for themselves. “The price tag will only go up” is an obvious truth here.
One month ago, NFL Network claimed that Lamb would be the Cowboys’ “priority” among the pending extensions on their to-do list, but that was a month ago. More time has passed. Fortunately, no major acquisitions have occurred since then, but things may change in the coming month.
The Cowboys have made it abundantly apparent that their first priority is to pay their own, and completing a CeeDee Lamb deal will go a long way toward demonstrating that they truly believe that. While there are compelling reasons to extend Dak Prescott and/or Micah Parsons’ contracts. It is safe to conclude that Lamb may be the most pressing because the market at his position is most likely to grow exponentially relative to the others.
