NFL insider outlines Justin Jefferson’s role in CeeDee Lamb contract stalemate with Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb sat out the Dallas Cowboys OTAs as the contract extension negotiations have taken a toll on the wide receiver. However, as per one NFL insider, fellow WR Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings could be a plausible reason for Lamb to be stalling his deal.
Both Lamb and Jefferson are in the final year of their rookie contracts after being drafted by their respective teams in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has suggested that the duo can further be linked due to their contract extension deals.
Appearing on ‘NFL Live,’ Fowler shared his understanding of the entire contract extension saga. Fowler suggested that the contract delay could be on the part of Lamb while he waits for superstar WR Jefferson to sign his deal with the Vikings. Fowler said:
“CeeDee Lamb appears to be waiting on Justin Jefferson, really the whole league is waiting on him to get done. He could be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league when it's all said and done for Minnesota.”
“So, if he's making $34 million a year, and you're Lamb, you don't want to jump out yet you want to wait for him to do that and then circle back with Dallas.”
A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles currently sits at the top of the WR pile with a $32 million per year contract. The expectations are that Jefferson would sign a $35+ million contract with the Vikings. Hence, Lamb could be resorting to playing the waiting game, to get his deal closer to Jefferson’s.
CeeDee Lamb has one more thorn in his contract extension
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler also highlighted one more issue regarding the Cowboys' being unable to tie CeeDee Lamb to a lucrative deal. That being their QB Dak Prescott, Fowler said on the show:
“CeeDee Lamb; couple things in play here, he could be waiting on Prescott. Dallas might need to prioritize the quarterback first.”
The Cowboys activated the fifth-year option in Lamb’s deal, which would make him earn $17.9 million in 2024, a $13 million pay jump from the last year. Only time will tell whether Lamb’s holdout will help him land a worthwhile deal before his quarterback.