The Dallas Cowboys are facing significant pressure heading into the 2024 NFL season, with owner Jerry Jones indicating high expectations by not extending head coach Mike McCarthy’s contract. McCarthy, in the final year of his deal, must lead the team deep into the playoffs to secure his future with the Cowboys, possibly needing a Super Bowl win to ensure it.
Additionally, Dallas is negotiating a contract extension with star quarterback Dak Prescott, who is also in the last year of his contract. The team cannot use the franchise tag on him again after this season, making an early re-signing crucial to prevent him from entering free agency.
One proposed solution to manage these financial pressures is trading Lamb to the Buffalo Bills. The hypothetical trade proposed by Paul Silano Jr. suggests the Bills would receive Lamb in exchange for significant draft capital: a 2025 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, a 2025 sixth-round pick, and a 2026 first-round pick. This move would provide Buffalo’s quarterback Josh Allen with a prime wide receiver target in Lamb’s prime years.
Recent contracts for top wide receivers, like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson, have set a high bar. St. Brown’s four-year, $120 million deal with the Detroit Lions and Jefferson’s $140 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings illustrate the increasing cost of elite wide receivers. It’s expected that CeeDee Lamb, too, seeking around $30 million per season, will command a hefty salary.
Dallas has indicated that Prescott’s extension is their top priority, potentially complicating negotiations with Lamb and other players like Micah Parsons, who could also command significant contracts.
While acquiring Lamb would benefit Buffalo, it would signal a challenging transition for Dallas, potentially indicating a pivot towards rebuilding. Such a move could jeopardize their current season goals, especially given McCarthy’s precarious coaching situation and the imperative to secure Prescott’s future with the team.
Ultimately, while trading Lamb could provide Dallas with valuable draft assets, it would underscore a strategic shift away from immediate competitiveness, impacting both their quarterback situation and overall team dynamics in 2025 and beyond.
