CeeDee Lamb contract could resemble Justin Jefferson's $35,000,000 Vikings deal, claims NFL insider
CeeDee Lamb didn't get his breakout deal before Justin Jefferson, but it could look similar. At least, that is what NFL insider Jeremy Fowler claimed on "SportsCenter."
“Justin Jefferson putting up a huge number at wide receiver at $35 million per year. So whether Lamb can beat that or not is debatable, but he’s gonna have to probably be pretty close to that number based on what he’s done," Fowler said.
Such a salary would have been quarterback money a decade ago. Now, multiple wide receivers could be in that ballpark. According to Spotrac, Justin Jefferson is signed through the 2028 season and his deal is worth $140 million over four years.
CeeDee Lamb's salary hitting that number would seem to make things tough on paying the rest of the squad. Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons are also either heading into or deeply involved in negotiations with Jerry Jones.
This sets up a situation where the general manager might need to choose between the wide receiver and the quarterback.
CeeDee Lamb trade: Who could replace the Cowboys WR in Dallas?
If Jones were to choose to pay Prescott over Lamb, the wide receiver may be forced out. The method of exit appears to be either to cut him or trade him. Cutting a talent like Lamb is objectively out of the question, as many teams would pay picks or players for the wide receiver.
As such, one would think the Cowboys would need a wide receiver in return as a consolation.
Such a trade would likely take the form of getting an older but still reliable player in exchange for CeeDee Lamb. Lamb's new team could pay him an expensive salary while the Cowboys get a decent value and minimize the immediate downgrade.
One such trade that makes sense would be Mike Evans for CeeDee Lamb. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers likely would need to toss in a few picks to compensate for the margin of longevity between the players. However, Evans has proved to be a 1,000-yard machine in his career, minimizing the chances of a complete crater at the position.
With Evans playing on just a two-year deal valued at $20.5 million per year per Spotrac, the Cowboys could be paying almost half of a Justin Jefferson-type salary.
If any of the above quotes are used, credit "SportsCenter," 5Goats, and H/T Sportskeeda.