CeeDee Lamb ends Cowboys holdout, signs new $136m contract

CeeDee Lamb’s months-long absence from the Dallas Cowboys is over, and the All-Pro receiver is second only to Justin Jefferson as the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Lamb and the Cowboys reached an agreement Monday on a four-year, $136 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, three sources familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

The people spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because the extension has not yet been announced.

Lamb missed the entire training camp in California after also skipping mandatory midseason minicamps. The June absence from the club’s headquarters began a day after Jefferson agreed to a $140 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings, making him the highest-paid non-QB.

The average annual value of Lamb’s contract extension is $34 million, which is roughly twice what the former Oklahoma star will earn in the final year of his rookie deal this season.

Lamb was selected 17th overall in 2020. The Cowboys were shocked that he was still available and had no hesitation in selecting him at a position that had no real need at the time.

Jefferson went five picks later, and had at least 1,400 yards receiving in each of his first three seasons. Lamb wasn’t as productive, but closed the gap considerably last season with 1,749 yards and an NFL-best 135 catches. Lamb completed the trifecta of career highs with 12 touchdowns.

The deal comes 13 days before Dallas’ season opener at Cleveland on Sept. 8. That’s more time than the Cowboys had five years ago when running back Ezekiel Elliott ended a preseason-long holdout four days before the season opener.

Next on the agenda is working out long-term deals for quarterback Dak Prescott and superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons.

Before the Cowboys left for California, Lamb spent a lot of time with Prescott. Now, the pair will have a handful of workouts to fine-tune their connection before taking on the Browns.