Cowboys began their spring workout program Monday morning, and star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was not there, according to those close to the team.

Lamb wants a new contract and isn’t expected to report to the team facility anytime soon, sources say.

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb isn’t expected to attend the start of Dallas’ voluntary off-season program Monday while he awaits a new contract to replace the one scheduled to pay him a fully-guaranteed $17.199 million for his upcoming fifth-year option season. pic.twitter.com/68lOV8I5sv

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 15, 2024

That said, Lamb’s payday will be even higher with the news out of Philly today.

DeVonta Smith signed a 4-year, $90.59M extension Monday morning, meaning Lamb’s payday will increase even higher.

As the Dallas Cowboys sit around and wait for the NFL draft, the Eagles moved quickly and resigned DeVonta Smith early before CeeDee Lamb and others.

Jerry Jones is doing what he does, waiting until the market explodes; while the Eagles front office does everything right again, Jerry does everything wrong.

WR CeeDee Lamb is not participating in the Cowboys offseason program.
Per a source with knowledge of the negotiations or lack there of on a contract extension, “why would he”

— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) April 15, 2024

Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and others are due for huge contracts, and I would be willing to bet that Lamb is one of if not the last in this group to be signed.

Doing so is going to make his payday through the roof.

Why Are We Doing This

CeeDee is coming off of literally the most statistically successful season that any wide receiver has ever had in Dallas Cowboys franchise history. Yet Jerry Jones doesn’t want to get a deal done, rather keep it a distraction for the team.

Lamb is not the only player with contract questions looming in Dallas. Quarterback Dak Prescott is in the final year of his deal.

Don’t tell me they can’t do anything, the cap space can be worked around. The Rams did it a few years ago and everyone told us they would be in “cap hell,” that hasn’t happened. They really went all-in got a title and still have more money than Dallas.

If they wanted to get deals done, they could.

On the bright side for the Cowboys, with the meaningful part of free agency finished, I don’t really think it matters if CeeDee sits out all the way to July/August.

It’s just that the downside is the missed opportunity of using the savings from signing him to improve the roster.

— David Helman (@davidhelman_) April 15, 2024

Micah Parsons is eligible for an extension, so there’s plenty for the Cowboys to sort out as they move toward the 2024 season.

Yet….. Here we are, just waiting for the prices to get even higher for their two best players.

If Dak does not get to at least the NFC title game, I don’t see them returning him. But you have a top-five receiver and a top-three defender in football, and you can’t move fast enough to get deals done?

Make it make sense

Let’s see what they do in the draft and what wasted-up players they try to sign after it is over.

If/when Lamb gets his deal, it will be around June or July; this front office does not care about winning or anything else.

They care about the media time they will get on the next show, and you know it just as much as I do.

I am generally upbeat about this team, especially last season, when they improved after trading for Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore in March.

Yet, in 2024, they have gotten worse. Sure, the draft will cover two players, but they need to make up for the depth they lost this offseason.

I hate the Eagles just as much as the next guy, but this front office does it right time and time again.

They get their players signed before the market blows up, they make trades in spots they have a need, they do what they need to do to make their team better, and I can’t stand it!

If this team doesn’t watch it, they could be done by Thanksgiving, we have to keep it real. Please tell me what they have done to make you think they will compete this season?

I hope I am wrong, get a deal done with your two best players, and give us fans something to make us think you are at least trying.