Dallas City News

It took longer than anyone wanted it to, but All-Pro CeeDee Lamb has his long-term financial security after inking a four-year deal worth $136 million earlier this offseason. This was paramount for the Cowboys to get done not just for the upcoming season, but for the future. Guys like Lamb don’t grow on trees.

Lamb and the rest of the Cowboys receiving corps faced a tough challenge on Sunday with the Cleveland Browns having as good of a three-headed monster at cornerback as any in the NFL, and a top flight pass defense overall. Before the Cowboys kicked off on opening weekend, Lamb was asked about what’s next for him in his career. The answer will make the fans in Dallas crack a smile.

Staying here. The goal is obviously to get here (at the top of the profession), but to really show how elite you are is how long you stay here. … I would love to be here another contract and another one, and retire here.

Music to our ears, isn’t it?

Lamb missed training camp and all of the preseason with his holdout. Although he’s a seasoned veteran and highly trusted to keep himself ready to go, not having Lamb around wasn’t ideal. Regardless of how good a player is, there’s something to be said about being with your teammates and getting some reps in to keep the juices flowing.

Despite the absence, Lamb was where he needed to be before the game took place.

I’m ready. … Today got me ready. … It was full contact, full padded practice. Got to compete against the ones. That was fun.

He didn’t look rusty on Sunday. His All-Pro quarterback, Dak Prescott, felt the same.

He’ll be just fine. We’ve had two weeks now, getting him back in. Obviously he was in shape but just on the field, defenders are on your back, trying to catch in tight windows, he’s ready. I mean he’s an elite player. Just turn on the film from last year and you’ll see that. He’s gotten better. So right now it’s just about, going out there and showing it for the both of us.

Lamb dominated in 2023 by leading the league in receptions (135), finishing second in yards (1,759), and second in receiving touchdowns (12). This put him at 395 receptions for 5,145 yards and 32 touchdowns in four years. Top-level production, to say the least.

Lamb only had five catches for 61 yards on Sunday, but both those numbers led the team. The Cowboys took their foot off the gas in the second half, so Lamb wasn’t really needed past the first half. He also added 25 yards on three jet sweeps.

Back in 2020, when Lamb was a rookie, he set the tone that he was going to be a special player. Despite Prescott missing 11 games, he racked up 935 yards that season. In addition to being productive, Lamb has been reliable as he’s played in 66 of a possible 67 games (only game missed came in 2021). That right there is the most important thing about Lamb, his availability. Also, he forced defenses to gameplay to stop him, and he can be lined up anywhere, which makes him an even bigger headache to deal with.

Now that Dak Prescott’s deal is done, the team will keep the best quarterback-wide receiver duo from last season together for the foreseeable future.