Sources – Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb agrees to four-year, $136M deal

Frisco, Texas — Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CD Lamb He has ended his holdout and agreed to a four-year, $136 million deal that makes him the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

According to sources, the deal includes a $38 million signing bonus, the largest ever given to a wide receiver, and $100 million guaranteed.

Lamb was scheduled to play the 2024 season at $17.99 million under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal and become a free agent after the season, but the Cowboys were able to tie him down through the 2028 season with the new deal.

minnesota vikings, Justin Jefferson The market tops out at $35 million per season. Philadelphia Eagles, AJ Brown has an annual income of $32 million, Detroit Lions, Amon-Ra St. Brown $30.003 million and miami dolphins, Tyreek Hill 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 deal, with $40 million fully guaranteed. In 2015, Dez Bryant signed a five-year, $70 million deal with $45 million guaranteed.

Lamb could be fined more than $3 million for missing training camp and three preseason games. But the team has the option of canceling the fine because he was on his rookie contract.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that Lamb’s return would be a morale boost for his team.

“Not only what he brings — we’re talking about what he does with his production — but when he walks in the locker room with a big smile, everybody gets excited because he’s just such a firebrand. He brings that type of energy to our locker room,” McCarthy said.

The Cowboys have three practices this week at The Star in Frisco, Texas, but Lamb will be put to work smartly after not being at training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Lamb continues to practice on his own, but the club wants to minimize any injury risk ahead of the season opener on Sept. 8. Cleveland Browns

“CD, especially, he can always run. I mean, he loves to run. That’s a player you have to wear down in practice because he’s going to run constantly. That’s his normal nature. I really focus more on not doing too much with him,” McCarthy said. “Overall conditioning, I don’t think I would be concerned. It’s more about the connection and the little things, the details. We need to run routes, 7-on-7 and get back to the team. He needs body-to-body, contested catches, his contact balance checks. All those things you really only get from playing football.”

Lamb has proven worthy of No. 88, worn by Hall of Famers Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin. Bryant also wore that number. The Cowboys never thought he would be available at the 17th overall pick in 2020. In fact, they rated him as 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 sets team records in catches (135) and yards (1,749), breaking Irvin’s record in 2023.

Part of his value is his ability to move around 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 receptions in 2023, the most in a season by a receiver in NFL history. His 29 catches of 20 yards or more tied with Hill for the league lead. He had a 92-yard touchdown catch against the Lions, the second-longest reception in team history (Hall of Famer Bob Hayes caught a 95-yarder in 1966).

He has 32 touchdown catches in his first four seasons, only Hayes (45) and Bryant (40) have more in team history. He finished last season with a touchdown in nine consecutive games.

The Cowboys approached Lamb, 25, about a contract extension through 2023, but talks never progressed. He skipped a voluntary offseason program for the first time in his career.

The Cowboys say they believe Lamb’s best days are yet to come, but can he and Dak Prescott Can we continue together?

Prescott’s contract expires after this season, and though the team would like to sign him to a long-term extension, he could hit the open market since the Cowboys cannot use the franchise tag on him.

With the opener against the Browns coming up soon, the Cowboys can put their full focus on getting Prescott under contract. They had conversations with Prescott over the summer in which he said they were headed in the right direction.

With Lamb on board, perhaps they’ll be able to progress even further.