Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is not expected to join his teammates at training camp on Wednesday, according to sources cited by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Lamb, who also skipped the mandatory minicamp, is seeking a contract extension as he approaches the final year of his rookie contract. His 2024 salary is $17.9 million.
At 25 years old, Lamb is projected to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid wide receivers following his first-team All-Pro selection in 2023. He is coming off the most productive season of his career, leading the league with 135 receptions, 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns.
The 2020 first-round pick, who was a second-team All-Pro in 2022, has surpassed 1,000 yards as Dallas’ top receiver for the past three seasons.
The Cowboys are also in negotiations with quarterback Dak Prescott but are reportedly prioritizing discussions with Lamb. All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons is also eligible for an extension before his fourth NFL season.
Wide receivers have been prominent in the headlines this year, with Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, and Amon-Ra St. Brown setting new market records with deals exceeding $30 million annually. Jefferson currently leads with an average annual salary of $35 million.
Negotiations between the Cowboys and Lamb reportedly accelerated following Jefferson’s contract signing in early June.
Dallas has experienced star players holding out before, such as running back Ezekiel Elliott in 2019, who later secured the most lucrative deal for a running back at that time. All-Pro guard Zack Martin also held out last year before signing a significant contract.
While it would be notable if Lamb surpasses Jefferson as the NFL’s highest-paid receiver, his current market value is estimated at $34 million per year, according to Spotrac.
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones recently acknowledged that “it’s a challenge” for the team to retain all of its star players.
