Could the Dallas Cowboys offense stall if star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb doesn’t show up soon?
The Cowboys open the regular season against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 8, and Lamb is still holding out for a contract extension. Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys have offered him a deal that would make him the second-highest-paid WR in the league behind Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson ($35M per year), but the parties haven’t reached an agreement.
On Tuesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Archer they’re having “promising talks” with Lamb, but it’s hard to buy that claim. Meanwhile, Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy said they’re “preparing the other guys” during Lamb’s absence.
It remains unclear if the other guys can step up. WR Jalen Tolbert only has 24 receptions for 280 yards and two touchdown catches in two seasons with the Cowboys. Fellow wideout Jalen Brooks logged six receptions for 64 yards in seven games during his rookie season in 2023.
WR Brandin Cooks — who finished second on the team in TD catches (eight in 16 games) last season — is expected to miss the rest of training camp due to a personal matter (h/t: the Associated Press).
McCarthy insists Brooks and Tolbert have made significant strides in training camp. While that’s a positive for the Cowboys, it’s unlikely either player will be as impactful as Lamb. Last season, the 25-year-old finished with a league-leading 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdown catches in 17 games and earned a first-team All-Pro nod.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott relies heavily on Lamb. According to Eric Moody of ESPN, Lamb accounted for 38.7% of Prescott’s passing yards (4,516 in 17 games) last season.
Lamb was one big reason the Cowboys finished third in the league in passing yards (258.6) last season. Dallas should stop wasting time and find a way to show him the money.