The Dallas Cowboys have had one of the worst offseasons in the NFL. Not only have they failed to improve on last season’s embarrassing Wild Card Round exit, but they also failed to extend the contracts of even one of their three superstars, all of whom had asked for new deals.

Micah Parsons, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are three established NFL stars who are all looking for new contracts this offseason to stay in Dallas long-term. Jerry Jones was unable to sign a single one of them.

When it comes to Parsons and Prescott, the hesitation to make deals makes sense from Dallas’ perspective. Parsons is under contract through the 2025 season, so the Cowboys don’t have to be too desperate to get him. Prescott will be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season, but the hesitation to deal a quarterback like Prescott, who is good but not nearly the best in absurd money to restart the market, makes sense. You have to let him earn it with a deep postseason run this year. With Lamb, on the other hand, the hesitation to make something has never made sense and never will for a variety of reasons.

In his last cryptic social media post, Lamb had this to say:

“I’m still waiting for the call, but until then we’re working hard… I control what I can control, and that’s being the best version of myself.”

Lamb is waiting to finalize a new contract, but while the Cowboys continue to waste time, he is working behind the scenes to prepare for the 2024 season.

It’s unbelievable that the Cowboys are waiting to agree to a contract extension with Lamb, one of the best receivers in the NFL.

The 25-year-old is coming off one of the best wide receiver seasons of all time, recording 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns in 17 games – a league record. He is solid and consistent and has gotten better every year. While he is not the best wide receiver in the game, he is certainly one of the three or five best.

With Prescott, it’s understandable that the Cowboys wouldn’t want to pay him more than $60 million if he’s not a top-five prospect at his position and hasn’t improved his or his team’s play in the playoffs. With Lamb, on the other hand, the Cowboys would guarantee significantly less money because he’s a receiver and a true superstar. Even if he’s not the best receiver, he’s pretty darn close.

He’s under contract for just under $18 million this season, but will become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season. Lamb understandably wants a deal that pays him like the elite player he is before he takes the risk of getting injured in a contract year. If we’re being honest, the Cowboys have no reason to wait.

What makes this so urgent from their perspective is that Lamb holds on. Parsons and Prescott are on the team, but Lamb is not. It’s possible he could report before Week 1 of the regular season begins, but that’s not a guarantee. He would also make the team without any preseason or training camp experience. The Cowboys should want Lamb on their team as soon as possible if they want to be competitive and get the best version of the three-time Pro Bowler.

ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter revealed just a few days ago that he believes a deal will be done before Week 1, but Lamb’s post suggests that nothing is in the cards at this point. All Cowboys fans can do is hope that Jerry Jones is desperate, comes to his senses, and gives Lamb the deal he wants and deserves.