Dak Prescott says CeeDee Lamb has full support of locker room at OTAs amid contract holdout

FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott made a point of being in the team’s offseason program despite entering the final year of his existing contract in 2024 and wanting a further long-term extension after leading the NFL in passing touchdowns in 2023.

His top target, 2023 All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, is in a similar situation to Prescott, as he also enters 2024, the final year of his existing contract. The similarities between their situations end there. Prescott is looking for his third NFL contract, second post-rookie deal, and earned $161.4 million from his contracts with the Cowboys over eight seasons, according to OverTheCap.com. Lamb is in line for his second NFL contract, his first after his rookie deal, after being selected 17th overall in 2020 NFL Draft. His career earnings from his contracts with the Cowboys are just over $14 million, according to OverTheCap.com.

Lamb is set to earn $17.9 million fully guaranteed on his fifth-year option as he aims to redefine the top end of the wide receiver market. Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown ($32 million average per year), Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill ($30 million per year) year), are the current standard.

“Yeah, I mean, that’s my guy,” Prescott said of Lamb on Wednesday at organized team activities. “There aren’t many more people out there, more arrogant, cooler, better players than that guy. So obviously you’re going to miss him, miss having him around. He has the support of me and almost everyone in this locker room, I know the support of the locker room and I hope he gets everything he deserves and is worth.

CeeDee Lamb’s NFL Rankings (2023 Season)

*Cowboys single-season record

Prescott acknowledged the difference between his first major contract negotiation, where Lamb is at in his career, and his current negotiation for a second long-term deal.

“I think it depends,” Prescott said when asked if respect comes into play in contract negotiations. “I think it depends on personal relationships and position and how much this payment might affect others. Understanding where I am, what my salary means to a team and to an organization, I don’t take things personally. , maybe things were a little different than they are now. One, it’s my age and who I am and where I am in my life and I think the fact that that first deal closed. this too. I have a lot to say too. It’s about understanding that business is business and for me it’s about controlling what I can and that’s about making sure I’m the best player I can be right now.

Cowboys No. 2 Brandin Cooks, a 10-year NFL veteran who has played for five teams, also fully supports Lamb, having spent many times on the business side of professional football.

“I’m always there for you,” Cooks said Wednesday after OTAs. “My biggest advice is just to make sure you’re doing what you need to do to be ready for training camp, whatever the case may be, so you don’t miss a beat and you don’t regret paying.”

He also fully supports the 2023 reception leader, who works to extract every penny possible from the Jones family coffers.

“The guy [Lamb] it’s an aberration,” Cooks said on May 1. “He deserves everything that comes his way, and I hope he gets every dollar he can and [be] the highest paid receiver in the league because he is the highest receiver in the league. Undoubtedly.”

Even though Lamb stayed away from the Cowboys and the team’s facilities, that didn’t stop him from getting in on the action with his quarterback, as Lamb followed Cooks’ advice.

“For me and everyone else, like I said, in some ways it’s okay that he’s not here,” Prescott said. “This is a great player, and he’s training and we know he’s doing (this), he’s fine. I’ve played with him a few times. I think the last time you asked me, I said no. And he’s ready to go. He looks like CeeDee Lamb.

Lamb’s absence opens the door for other youngsters to compete for snaps in practice. Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and 2024 sixth-round rookie Ryan Flournoy could be big beneficiaries of the opportunity. Both Cooks and Turpin shined on the sideline and were frequent targets on Wednesday.

“Ultimately, we’re going to have to rely on one of these guys that’s getting some of the reps that CeeDee would. I think that’s the important part for these guys to understand that these are real reps,” Prescott said. …. “The fact that these young guys can come in here, can hear everything, can communicate, can understand what I want on the routes is going to be huge. We’re going to need some of those guys.”