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It’s precisely the words that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants to hear from two of his superstar athletes heading into contract negotiations.
Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb are entering the final year of their contracts, and both have said they want to stay in Dallas long-term.
Despite a disappointing end to the 2023 season, Parsons says he’s happy being a Cowboy and wants to remain here for a while.
“I’m extremely grateful to still be a Cowboy. And I hope I’m a Cowboy for life.”
Lamb echoed similar sentiments.
“Absolutely,” Lamb said of his “Cowboy for Life” wish. “There’s no secret about that.”
What is Micah Parsons’ contract situation?
Micah Parsons is entering the final season of his four-year contract worth over $17 million per Spotrac.
In 2024, he’ll earn a base salary of nearly $3 million with a cap hit just shy of $5.5 million.
Seeing as he’s made the Pro Bowl in all three of his NFL seasons, Jones has gotten a ton of production from him without breaking the bank.
There’s also a fifth-year option available, something the Cowboys will likely exercise.
Parsons has been named a First-team All-Pro twice, posting 13 sacks or more in each of his three NFL seasons.
He was in the running for Defensive Player of the Year honors this season, losing out to Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.
What is CeeDee Lamb’s contract situation?
Lamb is also entering the final year of his contract, though 2024 is his option year after the Cowboys previously picked that up.
The 24-year-old finished second in receiving yards this season (1,749) and was a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year.
He’ll earn a little less than $17 million in 2024, per Spotrac.
Lamb and Jones could agree to restructure his contract over a long-term basis so that it doesn’t leave the Cowboys in a precarious situation regarding the salary cap.
In all likelihood, though, Jones will probably ink him to a long-term deal with fewer financial hits in the short term.
What kind of money can Parsons and Lamb expect?
Despite losing out at the NFL Honors this season, both Lamb and Parsons still have some strong bargaining chips to work with.
For Lamb, he led the NFL in receptions last season (135) and has improved his statistics every season.
He’s expecting to be the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
That distinction is currently held by the Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill at $30 million annually.
Parsons, meanwhile, hasn’t publicly made a statement like that, but in the negotiating room, you have to think he’ll want to be among the highest-paid linebackers.
Like Lamb, his numbers get better every year, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
According to Over the Cap, the Baltimore Ravens Roaquan Smith is the highest-paid linebacker, with an annual salary of $20 million.
That’s a fraction of what Parsons is currently earning.
Lamb and Parsons publicly declaring they want to be “Cowboys for life” might be what Jones needs to test how much they truly mean that.