After a drawn-out, dramatic contract dispute between CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys, Dallas signed Lamb to a long-term megadeal Monday afternoon.
Lamb's four-year, $136-million deal makes him the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The All-Pro receiver hadn't practiced with the Cowboys throughout training camp as his reps and Dallas' management sorted out an extension.
Lamb led the NFL in targets and receptions last season and was second in yards and touchdowns. Quarterback Dak Prescott, a free agent after this season who's also in contract negotiations with Dallas, gets his most reliable option back on the practice field 13 days before the season opener. Prescott is tied for the ninth-best odds to win MVP at +2000. He was the MVP runner-up behind Lamar Jackson last season.
The Cowboys are a consistently elite offense with Prescott and Lamb. They have the ninth-best odds to win the Super Bowl (+1800) and the fifth-best odds to win the NFC (+850) behind the 49ers, Eagles, Lions, and Packers.
If Lamb's holdout bled into the season, Dallas's win total (9.5) and championship odds surely would have slipped. After winning the NFC East last season, the Cowboys have the second-best odds behind the Eagles to win a division with no repeat champion since 2004.
Lamb is +1000 to win Offensive Player of the Year, tied with Ja'Marr Chase for the third-best odds behind Tyreek Hill and Christian McCaffrey. His projected season-long props are 1,300.5 yards and 9.5 touchdowns. Lamb accumulated an astounding 1,749 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. He recorded 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns the season prior.
The three-time Pro Bowler's presence as a safety blanket for Prescott and an unstoppable outside force completely changes the Cowboys' outlook. While known for embarrassing playoff flameouts, the Cowboys are firmly in the NFC's contender circle. Contract questions will linger in Dallas this season and into the offseason, with Prescott and Micah Parsons still negotiating new contracts. But the Cowboys diffused one burning bridge by securing a long-term deal for Lamb.
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.
