Dallas City News

WR CeeDee Lamb, DE Micah Parsons are not participating in Cowboys offseason program – Clarence E. Hill, Star Telegram

Not entirely unexpected – for either player.

Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons were not present for the start of the team’s voluntary offseason program on Monday.

Lamb is hoping to parlay a record-setting season in 2023 into a long-term contract extension. He is set to make a $17.99 million in 2024 on the fifth-year team option of his rookie deal.

Lamb could get get up to $30 million annually on a contract extension. His boycott of the offseason program is part of his negotiating strategy.

Per a source with knowledge of the negotiations: “Why would he (participate)?”

The offseason program is voluntary.

Parsons did not participate in the team’s voluntary offseason program last season, choosing to work out on his own. He showed up for OTAs and mini camp.

Parsons’ absence could be similar to last season [rather] than leverage for a contract extension.

Micah Parsons’ decision to skip start of Cowboys’ offseason workouts is not about money – Michael Gehlken, DMN

No reason to worry about Parsons.

A person close to the hybrid defensive end told The Dallas Morning News that Parsons is focused on a personalized training program outside the facility while determined to prepare himself for the 2024 season in the manner he considers optimal.

This same thinking saw Parsons be absent at this stage of the 2023 offseason.

He entered training camp in excellent physical condition and effectively wrecked practice in Oxnard, Calif. In other words, no one in the Cowboys’ building has reason to question how Parsons is working away from the club.

Player attendance during a workout program that, until a June 4-6 minicamp, isn’t mandatory is generally not notable.

Cowboys may pay price for approach to extensions – Todd Archer, ESPN

What is Stephen Jones doing?

The Dallas Cowboys have made no secret about their wishes. They want to sign Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons to contract extensions.

It was something they used to do routinely with players they wanted to keep off the free agent market. As recently as 2019, they signed DeMarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, La’el Collins and eventually Ezekiel Elliott to extensions. Prior to that, stars like DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten, Tony Romo and Terence Newman rarely sniffed the open market, signing deals most of the time before their contracts expired.

Lately, it’s been more difficult.

[…]

Why does it matter? The longer the Cowboys wait on deals, the more likely the cost increases. That can impact their ability to keep other players or add pieces in free agency. And extensions allow for roster continuity without the potential distraction of a holdout. They also take away the ill feelings of a player questioning how much the organization wants them. And it gives other players hope that they can sign long-term deals with the franchise.

Instead, these talks seem to almost get to a point of no return, causing unnecessary drama.

[…]

The Cowboys have their philosophy and don’t stray far from it.

But at what cost?

Is it an unwillingness of the club to set the market? Is it trying to win the deal? Is it hoping a player will finally see it their way that the pluses of playing in Dallas outweigh just about everything else?

Predicting the Future of the 2024 NFL Draft’s Riskiest Picks – Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report

To repeat as NFC East champions, the Cowboys very well may need a risk or two in the draft to pay off in 2024.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas

Potential Landing Spots: Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants

There was a time when Texas running back Jonathon Brooks was the top running back prospect on quite a few draft boards for 2024. The 6’0”, 216-pounder, eclipsed 1,100 rushing yards and averaged over six yards a carry last year before an ACL tear ended his season.

That ACL tear has clouded Brooks’ draft prospects somewhat. But as it happens, Dallas Cowboys team physician Dan Cooper performed Brooks’ surgery, and team vice president Stephen Jones told Nick Harris of the team’s website that the Cowboys have been keeping a close eye on Brooks’ rehab.

“Our understanding is that he has a great chance to be ready to not miss anything, start training camp and go to work,” he said. “We’ll see. I don’t want to preempt anything. I haven’t seen the medical reports, but from a periphery basis from afar, going to the combine and things like that, I think he can be a player that can start first day of training camp. Not start, but participate right away.”

The argument can be made that Brooks (when 100 percent) is the most explosive back in what is admittedly a less-than-impressive class at his position. The landing spot is going to matter a lot for the former Longhorns standout, but if lands on a team like Dallas with an immediate need in the backfield Brooks could easily wind up the No. 1 rookie running back of 2024.

Projected NFL Future: Solid NFL Starter, Leading Rookie Rusher in 2024

Two-Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Commanders select J.J. McCarthy, Vikings secure two QBs – Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

The Cowboys could look to make an existing strength even stronger by putting more speed on the field at WR alongside Lamb and Brandin Cooks in this mock.

ROUND 1

WR AD Mitchell, Texas

Dallas could go in many directions at this spot, but it’s time for the next wide receiver off the board, and Adonai Mitchell from Texas has elite potential. All the focus at the NFL scouting combine was on his teammate breaking the 40-yard dash record, but Mitchell clocking 4.34 at 205 pounds was almost as impressive.

56. DALLAS COWBOYS: RB JONATHON BROOKS, TEXAS

Dallas gets the top back in the draft to fill its need. Brooks is working back from a knee injury but could well be ready to roll at 100% by Week 1.

Report: Dallas Cowboys, CeeDee Lamb ‘not close’ regarding potential contract extension – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys

The CeeDee Lamb situation crawls along.

It was reported about a month ago by NFL Network that Lamb would be the “priority” for the Cowboys in terms of offseason negotiations, but since then not a whole lot has emerged. Monday afternoon brought more on the report about his Monday absence from ESPN’s Adam Schefter who went as far as saying that the team and player are currently “not close.”

At the moment Tyreek Hill is the highest-paid wide receiver and has an AAV of $30M. Logic would suggest that talks with Lamb would start just a bit north of there, but maybe they have not if we have found ourselves here.

Schefter also noted in his statement that we are in a moment where wide receivers across the NFL are looking to get paid. Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Brandon Aiyuk, Jaylen Waddle and Amon-Ra St. Brown all represent dominoes that could fall and raise the price for Lamb. Every day that Dallas does not get something done with Lamb is more opportunity they allow for someone else to get the better rate.

Next Man Up: Bell expected to move back to safety – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

The days of linebackers and safeties being interchangeable for the Dallas defense are gone.

The Past: Proof that the Cowboys are using their “30 visits” to explore a variety of options, Bell was one of the 30 players brought in by the team back in 2022. He didn’t get drafted but was signed as a free agent after the draft and has made the team each of the past two years. Bell played safety in college at Florida A&M but was used in a more hybrid role at linebacker, especially on passing downs last year. Bell finished second on the team with 103 tackles, only behind Damone Clark (115).

The Present: The Cowboys haven’t made any bold announcement regarding alignment of players. And that typically wouldn’t be something new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer would want to discuss this time of year. But there has been enough discussion regarding Bell that he would likely be moved back to safety from the linebacker role he was playing in Dan Quinn’s scheme. With the Cowboys likely not re-signing Jayron Kearse, who is one of the last remaining unsigned free agents, there is a void for the versatile safety that can player closer to the line of scrimmage. Bell should get the chance to compete for playing time in what is stacking up to be a crowded safety room with the likes of veterans Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker, along with Juanyeh Thomas, Israel Mukuamu and Bell.

The Future: This will be the final year on Bell’s contract, but he would be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Because Bell was undrafted, the Cowboys can only receive compensation for losing him if they were to place a second-round or first-round tender.