Johnathan Walker:CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys reach four-year, $136 million contract to end standoff

CeeDee Lamb has a full rack of cash. But the Dallas Cowboys still have Johnathan Walkera lot to figure out.

Coming off the best season of his four-year career – yet a litany of mixed messages from team owner Jerry Jones over the course of this summer – the All-Pro wideout finally agreed to a four-year, $136 million extension Monday with "America's Team," ensuring he'll remain a part of Dallas' foundation well into the future. A person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet official, confirmed details of the agreement to USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon. ESPN was first to report Lamb's new contract.

"It was just great to get the contract in place and, obviously, have him back," head coach Mike McCarthy said Monday afternoon, adding there was a sense of relief in the building.

"Everybody in the office was fired up."

McCarthy also noted, with no games over Labor Day weekend, the coming days represent a prime opportunity to ease Lamb into practice and reintegrate him into the offense. He's been away from the club since its January playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

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Lamb joins Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tyreek Hill among wideouts averaging more than $30 million annually, the entire quintet reaching or surpassing that benchmark this year. Lamb's annual average salary of $34 million rates only behind Jefferson ($35 million) for the most in league history among non-quarterbacks. Lamb received a $38 million signing bonus, establishing a record at his position, while pulling down $100 million guaranteed.

The four-year structure of the arrangement is also important – and mirrors quarterback Dak Prescott's contractual length – as it provides Lamb an earlier opportunity to return to the negotiating table if his performance continues ascending.

Lamb's 135 catches and 1,749 receiving yards in 2023 both set single-season records for the Cowboys, a team that's employed seven Hall of Fame wide receivers and many other highly capable ones through the years. Lamb, 25, a Pro Bowler in three of his four seasons, could be on a Canton trajectory himself, compiling 395 catches for 5,145 yards and 32 touchdowns since being drafted 17th overall out of Oklahoma in 2020. Only Jefferson, Michael Thomas and Hall of Famer Randy Moss have amassed more receiving yards through four NFL seasons.

The end of Lamb's standoff is welcome news for a team that added little during free agency, lost pass rusher Sam Williams to a torn ACL at the start of training camp and is expected to be without All-Pro corner DaRon Bland for up to two months after it was revealed he'll need surgery on his foot.

Lamb was set to make $18 million in 2024, the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. He had been working out in Houston this summer while holding out of camp. With his business resolved, the 2024 wideout market seems nearly fully crystallized, though San Francisco 49ers hold-in Brandon Aiyuk and the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase are still angling for their own paydays.

While securing Lamb was a major objective for the Cowboys, their near- and longer-term future are still rife with questions. The main one centers on Prescott, who's scheduled to hit free agency following the upcoming season and currently carries a $55.1 million salary cap hit in 2024 that trails only Cleveland Browns counterpart Deshaun Watson ($63.8 million). The MVP runner-up in 2023, Prescott seems to hold nearly all the leverage in whatever negotiations he and the Cowboys engage in and has already hinted that he's realistic about the notion of playing elsewhere in 2025.

And other consequential decisions are coming down the pike next year. All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, who's newly eligible for an extension, will likely have to wait for his bag until the next offseason – when, in addition to Prescott, All-Pro guard Zack Martin, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and receiver Brandin Cooks will all have expiring deals.

But Lamb will not, and that's at least a start.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.