The Dallas Cowboys must make a choice on the future of standout wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who is refusing to participate in mandated minicamp practices while negotiating a new deal.
Lamb is entering the final season of his rookie contract with Dallas. The two sides are likely to reach an agreement on a lucrative contract renewal.
However, if the Cowboys are unable to reach a new arrangement with Lamb, the organization may pursue a blockbuster trade. Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report looked into four potential trade packages involving Lamb.
One of the more fascinating ideas is to send Lamb to the team’s storied foe, the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the proposed trade, Dallas would acquire Steelers outstanding receiver George Pickens as well as a second-round pick.
“George Pickens is established in the NFL despite being just 23,” Gagnon wrote in a June 6, 2024 post titled “4 Trade Packages for CeeDee Lamb That Cowboys Couldn’t Deny Amid NFL Holdout.” “However, the Steelers could choose to maximize their weapons for Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.”
“Because Pickens is coming off a 1,000-yard sophomore season, this would be slightly closer to a player-for-player deal, with Dallas saving money and gaining some draft capital and Pittsburgh doing everything in its power to get this right,” Gagon said.
“This move makes quite a lot of sense considering the Steelers are in better cap shape than the Cowboys.”
Cowboys news: owner Jerry Jones discussed the idea of adding more players against keeping CeeDee Lamb.
Some Cowboys supporters will undoubtedly oppose to the concept, but consider what owner Jerry Jones said earlier this offseason. Unprompted, Jones debated whether to pay Lamb or add numerous players for the same money.
“He’s out there and he’s more valuable than anybody else,” Jones said on March 26, according to DallasCowboys.com’s Nick Harris. “But that valuable, having to give up four or five guys to obtain him, you have to reconcile that. That is what I am trying to communicate. It’s far quicker and easier said than done.
“Whoever has CeeDee — and I hope it’s us — they’re going to use him,” Jones stated. “You have to.” You just need to get that much mileage out of him. What did he show us? That he is capable of carrying the strain. We need to focus.”
Cowboys Rumors: Dallas Likely Passing on Trading CeeDee Lamb
The good news for Cowboys fans is that Jones often says things that don’t come true. Dallas could have learned its lesson after sending Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a late-round pick.
The decision did not work out well for the Cowboys, but it did allow Lamb to emerge as one of the NFL’s best receivers. Pickens is a solid wideout who recorded 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and 5 touchdowns in 17 games in 2023.
Dallas may also be interested in the receiver’s four-year, $6.7 million rookie contract. Pickens has two seasons left on his contract, but the receiver, like Lamb, will eventually be eligible for a raise.
Dallas can keep kicking the can down the road, but if the organization wants to have a top receiver, it will have to pay eventually. Spotrac estimates Lamb’s market worth to be a four-year, $136.1 million contract.
Star receivers such as Lamb are just going to get more expensive. The Cowboys are sure to come to their senses and sign the playmaker to a hefty new contract. This means passing up tantalizing trades for the star wideout.
