By Blessing 
CeeDee Lamb Risks Becoming Another Wasted Talent in Dallas
It’s been 29 seasons since the Dallas Cowboys last hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, and in that time, plenty of talented players have left without ever winning a championship.
The list of big names is long and frustrating for Cowboys fans—Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, Marion Barber III, Roy Williams, and Terrence Newman, to name a few. At least DeMarcus Ware managed to escape Dallas just in time to secure a Super Bowl ring with the Denver Broncos before calling it a career.
Now, DeMarcus Lawrence is inching closer to joining that unfortunate group. And if things don’t change soon, CeeDee Lamb might be heading down the same path.
Sure, if Lamb ends up on that list, he won’t be struggling financially. His $136 million contract extension, signed in August, ensures he’ll be in a Cowboys uniform through at least the 2027 season. If Dallas were to cut him after that, the team would only take a $7.6 million cap hit in 2028.
But that’s three years away. Three more chances to win a title and avoid the same fate as so many Cowboys greats before him.
A Legacy Tied to the No. 88 Jersey
When Dallas selected Lamb in the 2020 NFL Draft, they handed him the storied No. 88 jersey—a number that carries weight in Cowboys history.
Some fans believe it should have been retired after Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin wore it. Regardless, it came with high expectations, and Lamb embraced the challenge.
In his rookie season, Lamb found himself in a strong receiver trio alongside Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. With Dak Prescott coming off his best statistical year and Mike McCarthy taking over as head coach, things looked promising.
Lamb finished the season with 74 catches for 935 yards and five touchdowns, adding another score on the ground. But Prescott’s early-season injury derailed the team, and the Cowboys struggled.
The following year, with Prescott missing just one game, Lamb took another step forward, recording 1,102 receiving yards. Cooper was solid as well with 865 yards, but Gallup suffered a significant injury that altered his trajectory.
Then, in what felt like a typical miscalculation by team owner Jerry Jones, Dallas extended an injured Gallup and traded away Cooper for next to nothing. Lamb was left to shoulder the load.
He responded with a 1,359-yard season in 2022, followed by an explosive 1,749-yard campaign in 2023. Last season, even with Prescott missing half the year, Lamb still managed 1,194 yards.
Yet, despite his production, the Cowboys’ postseason struggles continued. In his five years, Dallas has missed the playoffs twice. In the three seasons they did qualify, they posted a disappointing 1-3 record, with their lone win coming in the Wild Card round.
It’s a pattern that has haunted Dallas since their last championship in 1995.
What’s Next for 2025?
Barring any surprises, Lamb will be back next season, as will Prescott. But the lingering question is: How effective will Prescott be after another significant injury to his right leg?
Gallup never regained his form after his injury and wasn’t even on an NFL roster in 2024 after Dallas released him. Lamb, who began his career surrounded by reliable receiving threats, now finds himself facing double-teams without much help.
Even when Prescott was healthy last season, the supporting cast was underwhelming. Brandin Cooks had flashes but wasn’t consistent enough to demand defensive attention. Now a free agent, he’s unlikely to return.
Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy—none of them have proven they can be a legitimate No. 2 option, let alone take pressure off Lamb.
Unless the Cowboys make significant moves in free agency or the draft, the situation in 2025 may not look much different. Lamb will likely crack 1,000 yards again, but every yard will be hard-earned.
The Bigger Picture
Looking ahead, the Cowboys’ financial strategy seems to point toward 2027 as a critical year. Many of their big contracts will either expire or have team-friendly outs at that time.
If Dallas truly has a long-term vision, it’s anyone’s guess what that plan entails. What’s certain, however, is that Lamb has three seasons left to bring a championship to Dallas.
If not, he’ll join a long, frustrating list of Cowboys stars who shined individually but never reached the pinnacle of the sport.
That’s a club no one wants to be a part of.