5 Reasons Why There Shouldn’t Be Any CeeDee Lamb Trade Speculation Despite Contract Dispute With Cowboys

Thursday afternoon was a roller coaster of emotions for the Dallas Cowboys and their fans. What started off as a productive joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams turned into another chapter in the contract saga between the team and CeeDee Lamb.

With so much uncertainty surrounding the team’s plan for Lamb and his new deal, the conversation regarding potentially trading the star receiver has begun to creep up around the league. However, I’m here to put that notion to bed and discuss five reasons why it won’t happen.

Trading CeeDee Lamb Isn’t on the Table for the Cowboys

If you have heard Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ decision-makers speak over the last few seasons, they have made their roster construction plans crystal clear. They believe in drafting and developing, skirting free agency for the most part when they can.

With that in mind, Lamb is the textbook case of a superstar being drafted by an organization that has been an instant success. For that, history tells us that Lamb isn’t going anywhere.

Simply Put, the Cowboys Have Lamb Under Contractual Control

While Lamb has stayed away from the team for the entirety of the offseason as he looks for a new deal, the Cowboys have much of the leverage in the situation. Lamb is entering his fifth season with Dallas after the team triggered the “fifth-year option” lever.

However, beyond that, the Cowboys can keep Lamb in the fold for an additional two years with the use of the franchise tag. Lamb and his representatives may despise the thought, but the reality is that the team holds the cards in this situation.

It probably isn’t a good idea to annoy and continuously aggravate your star receiver, as this tactic most certainly would, yet it is contractually within the team’s right to do so.

To add further context to the Jones family’s thought process, Stephen Jones spoke with The Doomsday Podcast and discussed this very idea.

“CeeDee can’t go play anywhere. He’s under contract, and we have franchise tags available,” Stephen started.

READ MORE: 5 Reasons Why Cowboys Should Have Urgency With Lamb’s Deal

“CeeDee isn’t going to be playing anywhere but Dallas. We want this to be a good situation for him when we’re all said and done, but also a good situation so that we can put a good football team on the field.”

Ultimately, cooler heads will most likely prevail, setting up a situation where both Lamb and the team can be happy. The Cowboys’ decision-makers’ knowledge of this brings a sense of grounding to an otherwise unsettling situation, allowing them to operate differently than if Lamb were gone following this season.

Lamb’s Stardom Is on the Rise, and Dallas Knows It

Dallas has long preached that they like to keep their homegrown talent in the fold, and in the case of Lamb, he fits the profile perfectly. Lamb was the Cowboy’s first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and has continued to ascend every year since entering the league.

The Joneses and Co. have made it clear that they look to draft and ultimately reward these types of players. With Dallas knowing Lamb’s best years are ahead of him, there is very little chance they will allow another organization to reap the reward here.

Here's a look at the top WRs on the #DallasCowboys depth chart with CeeDee Lamb away from the team. 😬 pic.twitter.com/7SaABlBzvA

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 9, 2024

Lamb is coming off a career year, his first year in a new system, cementing himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Players of this caliber get paid, and it’s almost always by the team that drafted them. Dallas preaches this approach, and not having their young wide receiver in the long term would be completely opposite of what they stand for.

History Tells Us This Is Par for the Course for the Cowboys

All offseason, the Cowboys operated their roster and salary cap situation with deals like Lamb’s in mind. For them to not only not be aggressive in free agency and then fumble this deal with over a year to prepare for it would be a massive failure. When we consider that we have seen how they have handled other deals in the past, the situation seems familiar.

Looking back at the Ezekiel Elliott situation, which famously provided us with the “Zeke Who?” comment from Jerry amid Elliott holding out in Cabo, Mexico, this isn’t something that is a foreign situation for the Cowboys’ front office. Even Zack Martin just last season chose to hold out, and both examples got a little contentious before they were resolved reasonably.

Jones is a long-time wheeler and dealer, someone who has prided himself on the art of the deal. Whether selling oil or working on NFL contracts, Jones likes to flex his business acumen when he can.

It hasn’t always been pretty, and it hasn’t always been comfortable, but for the most part, Jones typically finds a middle ground that allows the player to feel respected and be back in the fold in a timely fashion.

Despite Public Questioning, the Jones Family Still Wants To Win

Almost daily, there are questions about their tactics, with fanbases giving their two cents on how they would run things differently. And while some people believe that Joneses’ motives have changed over the years, the long-time Cowboys owner has made it clear that winning is still the most important thing to him.

Some may question it, but for Jones to still be a daily fixture in the offices of The Star in Frisco, trying to figure out a way to end the almost 30-year drought, it says something. A man of his pedigree and financial comfortability at his age may have chosen to take a back seat and enjoy the fruit of his labor.

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However, Jones still has the fire and desire to win, and that comes from being a rare competitor. Again, some fans may roll their eyes at these things, but it’s a largely shared point of view by those around the team.

All of this is to say that having Lamb in the fold gets them that much closer to reaching that goal, and Jones knows it. The young wide receiver is a unique talent, something you can’t just typically sign in free agency on a whim. Jones will keep Lamb in the fold because it is in the best interest of the team and, in turn, is in his best interest too.

While Public Perception Is Skewed, Cowboys Front Office Has a Respectable Roster Plan

Every offseason, Cowboys fans are outraged that the team didn’t sign a so-and-so player. At this point, it is almost a right of passage as a Cowboys fan. While some fans are frustrated by the lack of aggression, it’s clear the Cowboys have a plan of attack when it comes to roster building.

Dallas believes in what they do, even if the fans and the rest of the league don’t. And while they haven’t won the ultimate prize in almost three decades, it’s hard to argue with the regular season success they have had over the last few years.

Since Prescott was drafted in 2016, he has never had a losing season in a year he played at least five games. Add to the fact that the team has been 36-15 over the last three years, clearly, this is an organization knocking on the door. And they have done it unapologetically their way.

Whether it is Lamb or Prescott this year, Micah Parsons next year, or who knows who else will come, the Cowboys believe in the way they build their roster, and they know these drafted players are how they keep that plan going. Losing Lamb would be an admission of a failed plan, and Jones and Co. will not be doing that any time soon.