Brandon Aiyuk and CeeDee Lamb are taking different approaches regarding their contract negotiations. Lamb, a First-Team All-Pro member last year, is staying away from the Dallas Cowboys. While he’s under contract via the fifth-year option of his rookie-scale contract, both sides haven’t agreed on a contract extension.
Lamb can afford to miss some days at training camp because he's still under his rookie deal. Contract rules under the latest collective bargaining agreement state that the team can waive fines for players absent at training camp while under contract on a rookie-scale deal. Without a contract extension, Lamb can walk away from the Cowboys for nothing unless the team designates him with the franchise tag.
As an FYI: Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is subject to a $40K fine for each day of training camp he misses, but, because he still is on his rookie contract, Dallas can opt to waive any accrued fines. https://t.co/hFHitiXldU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2024
Conversely, Aiyuk is present at the San Francisco 49ers team facility to avoid getting fined, even if he's also under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. However, as a hold-in, he's not participating in team practices or any on-field activity. He could do drills or attend meetings to make his time productive.
However, Aiyuk's presence doesn't indicate that he and the 49ers are close to a deal. With the wide receiver market surging, Aiyuk and Lamb are negotiating around Justin Jefferson's four-year, $140 million contract extension. Aiyuk wants a contract between what Jefferson ($35 million) and A.J. Brown ($32 million) averages. Meanwhile, Lamb's camp is negotiating a deal that could exceed Jefferson's annual average.
-Lance Fernandez