In a salary cap sport like the NFL, not all players can be paid top dollar, but the Dallas Cowboys have two star players that are considered essential to the team’s success. Despite the Cowboys going 12-5 for a third consecutive season, they were eliminated in the wild-card round of the playoffs by the Green Bay Packers. Throughout the season, quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb formed one of the best quarterback-receiver tandems in the league. Prescott was a strong MVP candidate, finishing second in the voting with 36 touchdowns, while Lamb led the NFL in receptions and had career-high numbers in yards and touchdowns.
Lamb is eligible to be franchise-tagged after the season, but Prescott is set to become a free agent. Opinions are divided on Prescott, who has a 2-5 playoff record in his nine seasons in the league. On the other hand, Lamb is entering his fifth year and is on the rise after a stellar season. Teammate Brandin Cooks praised Lamb’s abilities and expressed his belief that Lamb deserves to be the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. Cooks highlighted Lamb’s versatility and playmaking ability, as well as his dedication to the game, predicting that Lamb will continue to improve and bring value to the Cowboys.
Two offensive linemen from the Kansas City Chiefs were recently arrested on marijuana possession charges, making headlines off the field. While the legal issues are a concern, the focus remains on the financial future of key players like Prescott and Lamb. Other wide receivers in the league have signed lucrative contract extensions, with Amon-Ra St. Brown and A.J. Brown receiving deals worth over $30 million in annual average value. Cooks believes that Lamb is deserving of a similar payday and expects him to “break the bank” with his next contract. The Cowboys front office faces the challenge of balancing their salary cap to retain both Prescott and Lamb for the long term.
Cooks emphasized the importance of the quarterback-receiver relationship and Prescott’s leadership qualities in the locker room. Despite Dallas’s lack of recent postseason success, Cooks believes that both Prescott and Lamb have the potential to continue getting better and remain among the best in the league. As the team navigates the complexities of the salary cap and contract negotiations, Cooks expressed confidence that both players will bring value to the Cowboys for years to come. Maintaining a strong connection between Prescott and Lamb could be key to the team’s success in the future, as they aim to overcome their playoff struggles and achieve greater postseason success.
