Cowboys are getting more of what they asked for with latest NFL news and not in a good way
Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys' pre-draft press conference took a very telling turn: Just about every question thrown to the team's brass didn't have anything to do with picking players or the available rookie class but rather the team's underwhelming approach to free agency and pending contract extensions of Dak […]
Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys' pre-draft press conference took a very telling turn: Just about every question thrown to the team's brass didn't have anything to do with picking players or the available rookie class but rather the team's underwhelming approach to free agency and pending contract extensions of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons.
One of the most important quotes to come out of that presser was Jerry Jones' bold declaration that they "wanted to see more leaves fall" at the wide receiver and quarterback market before extending their All-Pro players at each position.
"What your actual question is why don't you have something done and negotiated and put in the drawer?," Jones told reporters back in April. "We'd like to see some more leaves fall. We'd like to see some more action"
Cowboys keep getting more of what they asked for after Jaylen Waddle extension
Since then, so many leaves have fallen around the NFL that you would think it was the fall already. That includes the news that broke on Thursday on Jaylen Waddle signing a three-year extension with the Miami Dolphins.
Waddle, a No. 2 wide receiver for his team, is getting $28.25 million per year in a deal worth $84.75 million that includes $76 million guaranteed. Despite his role as No. 2 behind Tyreek Hill, Waddle might have WR1 talent as he's recorded 1,000-yard seasons in each of his three years in the NFL. But at the end of the day, he's a WR2.
And trust me, a non-WR1 getting this kind of money isn't exactly the kind of leaves the Cowboys were hoping for.
Additionally, Amon-Ra St. Brown and A.J. Brown both have exceeded the $30 million per year mark following Jones' unfortunate flora comments.
Meanwhile, CeeDee Lamb is away from the team's OTAs and will likely continue to miss time with the team, perhaps even deep into training camp barring an extension. While no one doubts No. 88 will be ready to go by the time the season kicks off, the Cowboys are missing out on a unique opportunity to have Lamb coach up several young wide receivers on the roster, including third-year Jalen Tolbert, the s, and even fifth-round rookie Ryan Flournoy.
The Cowboys have seen themselves lose contract negotiations time and time again because of their "wait it out" strategy. But patience isn't necessarily equal to efficiency, as they've found out in multiple occasions.
