CeeDee Lamb Trade Proposal Would Be a Disaster for the Patriots
By Ryan Bunton
Superstar Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has been holding out of Cowboys minicamp as he awaits a new contract. Lamb's impending contract will assuredly put him in the pantheon of highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history, especially after Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson broke the bank.
Dallas might not be willing to shell out that type of money for Lamb, who is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. The 25-year-old also led the NFL in receptions last season. Therefore, rumors of a potential Lamb trade have begun to permeate.
Bleacher Report laid out four trade packages that the Cowboys "couldn't deny" in exchange for Lamb. One such proposal included the New England Patriots. The proposal? The Patriots would send their 2024 second-round pick, receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, and a first-round pick.
But the worst part for the Patriots? The biggest transaction isn't even part of that package. Once New England hypothetically acquires Lamb, they will have to hand him an exorbitant contract. The wide receiver market has also exploded this offseason. On June 3, Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million deal, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Earlier this offseason, Amon-Ra St. Brown got four years and $120 million, A.J. Brown secured three years and $96 million, and Jaylen Waddle inked a three-year, $84.75 million deal. Lamb's looming contract will likely hover around $30 million per year and will compete with Jefferson's record-breaking deal.
The Patriots' do still possess the highest cap space in the league, and could hypothetically pull this off without major subsequent roster shuffling. Even so, the Eliot Wolf regime hasn't shown much of an appetite for handing out hefty paydays (to date), and appear committed to a draft and develop philosophy.
New England's front office might be more willing to part with a 2026 first-round pick than a 2025 first-rounder. The Patriots' over/under win total is set at 4.5 on FanDuel. They could very well be looking at another top-10 or even another top-five pick again in the 2025 NFL Draft, but would Dallas hold firm on demanding the 2025 selection?
To acquire Lamb, it could boil down to trading a top-five pick and New England's most recent second-round pick in Ja'Lynn Polk. Oh, and the Patriots have to make Lamb one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks ever in NFL history. New England won't bite, and they shouldn't.
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