CeeDee Lamb’s months-long absence from the Dallas Cowboys is over and the All-Pro receiver is just behind Justin Jefferson as the second highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Lamb and the Cowboys agreed on Monday to a four-year, $136 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, three people 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 all of training camp in California after also skipping mandatory minicamp during the offseason. The June absence at club headquarters began a day after Jefferson agreed to a $140 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings that made him the highest-paid non-QB.
The average annual value of Lamb’s contract extension is $34 million, which is roughly double what the former Oklahoma star will earn in this year of his rookie contract.
Lamb was drafted 17th overall in 2020, when the Cowboys were surprised he was still available and didn’t hesitate to select him at a position where there was no real need at the time.
Jefferson played five times later and managed at least 1,400 yards in his first three seasons. Lamb was not as successful, but was able to close the gap last season with 1,749 yards and 135 catches, an NFL record. Lamb completed the three-way combination of career highs with 12 touchdowns.
The agreement was reached 13 days before Dallas’s opener at Cleveland on Sept. 8. That’s more time than the Cowboys had five years ago when running back Ezekiel Elliott ended his long preseason layoff four days before the opener.
Next on the agenda is working out long-term contracts for quarterback Dak Prescott and superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Before the Cowboys left for California, Lamb spent a lot of time with Prescott, and now the two will go through a few more practices to refine their connection before facing the Browns.
