A quarterbacks best friend is considered the tight end, but it may be the wide receiver. The quarterback-wide receiver relationship is very codependent on each other. A quarterbacks production and efficiency stem from his wide receivers catching the ball and making plays. The wide receivers production and paydays rely solely on having the ball in their hands.
This offseason has been a rollercoaster for wide receivers looking to get paid. Several wide receivers have already gotten paid and Justin Jefferson‘s four-year $140 million extension has reset the market. More extensions will come as teams begin to report for training camp but all extensions haven’t come easy. As many guys threaten to hold out due to a lack of progress on their deals it makes one wonder if the wide receiver position is becoming undervalued. Here are a few notable star wide receivers still actively searching for a contract extension.
Wide Receiver Position Becoming Undervalued?
Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2022 and is playing in the last year of the extension he signed in 2020. In his two seasons with the Browns, he’s eclipsed 1,000 both seasons and has caught 14 touchdowns. Despite the Browns shuffling through five different quarterbacks and Cooper himself missing two games, he finished the 2023 season with a team-high 1,250 receiving yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
The Browns will report to training camp on Tuesday, July 23rd but they’ll most likely be without their star wide receiver. Cooper who turned 30 this offseason will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 season. While both sides hope to get a deal down the Browns need to lock up their star wideout before more extensions roll in.
Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuk’s dissatisfaction with the San Francisco 49ers has been made public throughout the offseason and he may be on his way out of the Bay Area. It seems the 49ers were preparing for this moment when they drafted Ricky Pearsall in the first round. Earlier this week the second-team All-Pro wide receiver requested a trade. Aiyuk who’s only 26 years old emerged in 2023 while finishing the season with 75 receptions, 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.
If Aiyuk does remain in San Francisco he’s under contract through the 2024 season but it seems he’s more likely to be traded. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been interested in facilitating a trade for the wideout. However, he’s also hinted at joining the Washington Commanders to play with his college quarterback, Jayden Daniels. The relationship between Aiyuk and the 49ers seems too broken to repair and there’s a high chance he’ll be in a different uniform to start the 2024 season.
CeeDee Lamb
Wide receivers have had an intriguing offseason as far as contracts go and CeeDee Lamb could be next. Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys have been trying to work out a contract extension but haven’t met on common ground. The Cowboys training camp will start on Wednesday, July 24th and it’s believed Lamb will be holding out while he awaits a new deal. Due to his holdout status, they’ll prioritize getting Lamb’s deal done before focusing on Dak Prescott. Four wide receivers salaries exceed $30 million per year and Lamb’s price tag should be around or slightly above that number.
The Cowboys star wide receiver 135 receptions led the league and set a franchise record for yards (1,749). He would finish the year with 14 total touchdowns (12 receiving). Lamb made his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance and was a first-team All-Pro. Lamb will earn a base salary of $17.9 million in 2024. The goal for both sides is to reach an agreement but if they can’t, he’ll be eligible for the franchise tag in 2025. The Cowboys have their hands full with Prescott and Lamb coming off the best seasons of their careers. If the Cowboys truly value their quarterback-wide receiver duo, they’ll get both deals done before the end of the 2024 season.
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