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If the Dallas Cowboys are forced to trade CeeDee Lamb, an out-of-conference foe could be an ideal trade partner.
The 25-year-old receiver skipped the team’s mandatory minicamp and missed all of the team’s voluntary organized team activities as he holds out for a new contract. The three-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his rookie contract which will pay him slightly less than $18 million. If the Cowboys can’t work out a deal with him, they will have to explore a trade.
A list of proposed trade scenarios compiled by Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon includes the Cowboys dealing Lamb to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for rookie receiver Ladd McConkey and a first-round draft pick.
The argument is simple – the Cowboys would benefit from cap savings by unloading Lamb for a rookie receiver, and they would be trading Lamb to an AFC team unlikely to contend for a Super Bowl during the 2024 season.
“Dallas would struggle to turn down the immediate cap savings and the significant 2025 draft capital influx, especially with a bright young receiver in Ladd McConkey coming back to try to strike gold with Dak Prescott,” Gagnon wrote.
Ladd McConkey Impressed as Star Receiver at Georgia
The Chargers selected McConkey with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. The 6-foot, 185-pound receiver doesn’t exactly possess prototypical size for a starting receiver, but he was a highly accomplished target while playing for the University of Georgia.
The 22-year-old won two national championships while starring at Georgia, including his 2022 season where he posted 58 receptions for 762 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. McConkey posted 5 receptions for 88 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in the 65-7 win over Texas Christian University in the 2022 National Championship.
As Gagnon mentioned, the Chargers – who would be seeking a viable receiver for star quarterback Justin Herbert – would acquire one of the best weapons in the league in Lamb after losing their top two receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, during the offseason.
“In this case, it would be a chance for Jim Harbaugh and Co. to maximize their support for Justin Herbert at a critical juncture of his career,” Gagnon wrote. “And like New England, the Los Angeles Chargers have the cap space while also not being considered a primary contender.”
Why Cowboys Could Be Forced to Consider CeeDee Lamb Trade
In considering whether to trade Lamb or sign him to a contract extension, the Cowboys will need to take into account the upcoming mega money deals for Prescott – who will likely earn at least $50 million annually – and linebacker Micah Parsons, who is projected to earn $32 million annually on his next deal, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell.
According to Spotrac, Lamb’s projected contract value is $136 million over four years at an average annual value of $34 million. Considering the Minnesota Vikings just signed Justin Jefferson to a $140 million deal across four years ($35 million per year), the Cowboys would likely be forced to tack on some extra dollars to surpass that deal.
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