Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb holdout: Potential fines, contract prediction, and when will he show up?
UPDATE: As expected, Adam Schefter from ESPN is now reporting Lamb will in fact, not report to training camp on Wednesday. The Dallas Cowboys are about to kick off training camp in Oxnard, California on Wednesday. Veterans and rookies are reporting on the same day, unlike other teams that ask first-year players to show up […]
UPDATE: As expected, Adam Schefter from ESPN is now reporting Lamb will in fact, not report to training camp on Wednesday.
The Dallas Cowboys are about to kick off training camp in Oxnard, California on Wednesday. Veterans and rookies are reporting on the same day, unlike other teams that ask first-year players to show up early.
However, fans shouldn't expect All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to be among those attending practice.
The Cowboys are expected to make Lamb one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season and after missing OTAs and minicamp, he is highly unlikely to show up for camp unless a new deal is in place.
When will CeeDee Lamb show up?
Ultimately, the truth is we don't know given this largely depends on how negotiations progress over the next few weeks.
If talks gain momentum, it could be a matter of days for Lamb to be in Oxnard. However, if any progress has been made, it sure has been in quiet fashion. It wouldn't be surprising if this went on for longer than expected.
If conversations fail to move forward, Lamb's holdout could come down to the wire. In 2019, Ezekiel Elliott's holdout ended with under a week left to go for Week 1.
How much can CeeDee Lamb be fined for missing training camp?
Per the current CBA, players on fifth-year options who miss training camp are subject to fines of $50,000 per day plus one week’s Paragraph 5 Salary for each preseason game missed (close to $1M per preseason game missed in Lamb's case).
However, since Lamb is still on a rookie deal, his $50,000 per-day fines are rescindable by the Cowboys, just like was the case with Nick Bosa and the San Francisco 49ers last year.
In other words, fines will likely have almost no effect on Lamb's projected holdout, which will only be stopped with a new contract. The good news is…
Cowboys, Lamb have contract template in place
Earlier in the offseason, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claimed the front office was waiting to see "more leaves fall" before signing CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott to new deals.
At wide receiver, Jones got what he asked for.
Early in June, the wide receiver market was reset by Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson after signing a four-year deal worth $140 million, becoming the highest-paid receiver at an average value per year of $35 million.
Such number was extremely significant as even though there were already so-called $30M per year receivers in the league, averages were misleading with big numbers attached at the end of contracts. In a much more real sense, top receivers were averaging closer to $28M before Jefferson took things up to $35M.
Jefferson's deal is likely going to serve as a template for Lamb's future deal, which should facilitate things in the negotiating table for the Cowboys and their All-Pro player.
When Jefferson signed, reports emerged on the Cowboys' negotiations with Lamb being expected to speed up yet here we are. Still in square 1.
Prediction: Ultimately, I think the Cowboys sign Lamb to a deal almost identical to Jefferson's at four years and $140M. A potential significant difference might come in guaranteed money. Jefferson hit $110 in guaranteed money, I could see Lamb coming in slightly underneath that mark.
With that being said, if there's one thing we know is that the Cowboys front office isn't afraid of waiting things out. Fans should buckle up for a long training camp of this discussion.
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