OXNARD, Calif. — CeeDee Lamb raced down the right sideline, telling himself: I got to win my one-on-one.
The task was doable, the Cowboys wide receiver believing in his own skills against any defensive back. But he still needed to catch it.
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And in the Cowboys’ two-minute period on Sunday, catch the deep pass from Dak Prescott Lamb did. The duo celebrated with a deep breath to reset and their three-years-and-counting handshake.
Across Sunday, they’d connect on two deep passes down the right sideline as well as a slant on third down.
“It’s demoralizing for the defense,” Lamb told Yahoo Sports of those plays, also crediting his defensive teammates for their strong plays to start practice. “They were mad, hyped and all that. You know how defensive guys be.
“But as for us man, we just got to connect, fight through the fire and air it out.”
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The Cowboys have luck airing it out in large part because of their top-shelf weapons at receiver. Lamb is entering his seventh season since Dallas selected him 17th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. But the Cowboys’ passing game especially surged last year as Lamb began lining up beside George Pickens, defenses left scratching their heads and trying to ad-lib to defend both No. 1-caliber receivers at the same time.
Lamb and Pickens each celebrated the reduction of double and triple coverages they saw when working together.
“As a coach, you get kind of set in this mode of like, ‘Here’s the issues you’re going to see’ [but] we’re seeing all sorts of different, weird stuff because people are having to think outside the box,” offensive coordinator Klayton Adams told Yahoo Sports. “These guys, it’s hard to leave them one-on-one.”
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The Cowboys’ 4,527 passing yards ranked second only to the Los Angeles Rams last season. Pickens led Cowboys receivers with 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns while Lamb contributed another 1,077 and three touchdowns despite missing three games.
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“I’d say the two of them did pretty damn good,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “Would you take that again? Hell, yeah, you would. But can they be better? I think they can. And the good news is it’s not like we’re naked without them.”
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The Cowboys’ confidence in tight end Jake Ferguson, rising receiver Ryan Flournoy and 1,200-yard running back Javonte Williams helps drive the club’s goals to be the “greatest offense there is” (or GOTI, as they’re using the acronym).
If they come close to resembling that aspiration, they’ll need to consider what to do with Pickens after he plays this season on the $27.3 million franchise tag. The 2026 season will offer necessary data points for that decision. But after the sides did not negotiate toward a long-term deal ahead of the July 15 deadline, it’s worth asking: Is there a ticking clock on Dallas’ offense as constructed?
The Cowboys are celebrating their offensive continuity across the offensive line, weapons and, of course, 11th-year Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. But Pickens’ impending contract expiration — and the $94 million a year currently committed to Prescott and Lamb — has left some around the league wondering whether Dallas will have to choose next spring between keeping Lamb or Pickens.
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Jones insisted paying all three playmakers is possible. But he noted funds will be needed for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and pass-rush production.
“Yeah, just you got to tell me the rest [of our spending], too,” Jones told Yahoo Sports on Sunday. “At some point, you’ve got to figure that out. But no, I think it’s realistic.”
Lamb hopes it’s not just realistic but also the pending reality. His response to rumors that he doesn’t want to share targets with Pickens?
“I don’t have no ego here, I want to win,” Lamb said. “I don’t understand the narrative or X, Y, Z, but it is what it is.”
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And consider him ready to tell team owner and general manger Jerry Jones to make that happen.
“I’m sure we can make a way,” Lamb said. “I know it’s going to be a little crazy, but I know we can make a way for this one. “Listen, this is my advocation, @ Jerry, can you please figure out a way? Let’s figure it out. I don’t care what needs to happen.
“Let’s figure it out and it’s going to get you a couple more championships.”
