One of the Dallas Cowboys players seeking a new contract before the start of this season will not report to training camp.
Star receiver CeeDee Lamb, who led the league with 135 receptions and set career highs with 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns, will not report to the start of camp, according to multiple reports.
NFL Network reports that Lamb and the Cowboys had attempted to come to an agreement before camp began but have been unable to find common ground.
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CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a first down during the fourth quarter in the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Lamb will then officially be a deserter and will be fined for lost time until a new deal is reached.
As it stands, Lamb is set to play out his fifth-year option, which is worth $17.99 million.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who was taken several picks after Lamb in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, was rewarded for his stellar production with a league-leading $140 million contract extension that pays $35 million per year over the next five years.
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Lamb's production has been stellar since joining the Cowboys as the 17th overall pick, as the Oklahoma product has had at least 1,102 yards since 2021.
And Lamb likely understands the current situation the Cowboys find themselves in heading into the 2024 season. First, their quarterback, Dak Prescott, and head coach Mike McCarthy are also in contract years.
Second, Lamb is clearly the best option on the field, especially since the Cowboys didn't improve much in the offseason other than bringing back Zeke Elliott as the starting running back. The receivers remain Brandin Cooks and Jalent Tolbert alongside Lamb, while Jake Ferguson returns at tight end.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) catches a touchdown pass during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions on December 30, 2023 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
If the Cowboys are to break their Super Bowl drought, Lamb is a crucial offensive weapon to making that happen this season and in the seasons to come.
That kind of leverage is powerful stuff, as Lamb clearly understands his value and won't settle for whatever the Cowboys may have already offered.
As ESPN's Ed Werder noted, the Cowboys have had to deal with players not signing contracts in the past. Elliott was one of them in 2019, when he finally became the highest-paid running back in the NFL.
And last year, offensive guard Zack Martin sat out training camp until he was named one of the NFL's highest-paid offensive linemen.
CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on before kickoff against the Green Bay Packers during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at AT&T Stadium on January 14, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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Lamb, second in the league last season in receiving yards by just 50 behind Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill, who makes $30 million per season, will accept whatever fine comes his way as his teammates begin training camp without him on the field.
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