Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken wrote that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb might stay away from the team during their offseason OTAs, exercising his leverage to force the Dallas Cowboys to give him a lucrative contract extension.

Lamb’s agent, Tory Dandy, did not comment on whether the two-time All-Pro wideout will be present when the Cowboys start their offseason workout at Ford Center. However, attendance at these workouts is voluntary, and Lamb doesn’t have a workout bonus because he will be playing the 2024 NFL season under the fifth-year option.

A potential holdout could be coming for #Cowboys star WR CeeDee Lamb, who isn’t expected to attend the team’s OTAs, per @dallasnews pic.twitter.com/vwa39a8C1I

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) April 8, 2024

Lamb deserves a hefty raise after a magnificent 2023 season for Dallas. While they fell short in the Wild Card Round showdown against the Green Bay Packers, the former Oklahoma standout had a solid regular season, finishing with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He also became the first player in league history to have at least ten catches and 150 receiving yards in three consecutive games. Lamb broke Michael Irvin’s single-season franchise records in receiving yards and receptions after tallying 13 catches for 227 yards in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions.

The Cowboys exercised Lamb’s fifth-year option before the 2023 season started. Now that he has one year left in his contract with Dallas, he expects a payday that is the same or higher than Tyreek Hill’s $30 million annual average salary.

But by skipping the OTAs, Lamb is sending a message that he won’t return unless an extension he deserves is in place.

-Lance Fernandez