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3 contracts that need to be talked about outside of Dallas’ Big 3
As the Dallas Cowboys sprint full-speed ahead into the thicket of the summer offseason program, they have several orders of business to address. Three of their most prominent players are up for big contracts, and the ensuing negotiations are sure to be highly publicized and capture national headlines. Quarterback Dak Prescott is entering his ninth season as the team’s starting quarterback and looking for his second major contract with Dallas. Meanwhile, CeeDee Lamb is playing on his fifth-year option and has earned what he has coming to him after setting franchise records in yards and receptions in 2023. Micah Parsons is away from the team during this round of OTAs, but the premier defender is sure to command top dollar. While those contracts are significant and are at the forefront for Jerry Jones, a few other contracts are expiring this season that bear monitoring, and one that the Cowboys should address now before it’s too late. Here are three contracts to consider aside from Lamb, Prescott, and Parsons.
KaVontae Turpin
Turpin could earn himself a substantial pay raise after the 2024 season. You expect the Cowboys will work out a new contract with CeeDee Lamb sooner than later, and he’ll remain atop the team’s depth chart at wide receiver for years to come. Yet, when you look at the depth behind him, there is a path for Turpin to occupy a more prominent role in the offense and, thus, a larger payday. Brandin Cooks will be an unrestricted free agent after this year, and Jalen Tolbert is coming into his third season but still hasn’t secured anything yet. Turpin is surprisingly good at making contested catches for someone of his stature, in addition to his explosive speed in the open field.
If Turpin can work himself into the team’s third receiver at some point this season, it’ll bode well for his contract talks. Furthermore, Turpin can also work in some capacity out of the backfield in specific packages and elevate him into more of an offensive weapon than merely a receiver and return specialist. Since Turpin was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022, his path to a more substantial contract is more layered than most. Turpin will be a restricted free agent after this season.
Osa Odighizuwa
This is a situation where the Cowboys can get a head start and avoid being hit by the money train if they wait much longer to sign Odighizuwa. The fourth-year defender hasn’t made a Pro Bowl just yet but has already demonstrated his quickness as an under-tackle to penetrate the defensive backfield. He has been touted as the next breakout star of the Cowboys’ defense. He’s only 25 years old and has exceptional traits. The Cowboys can avoid having to learn the hard way.
Take the Baltimore Ravens for example. Justin Madubuike always had the talent to be a disruptive interior rush but had yet to put it all together. That is, until he did last year in the final year of his contract, erupting for 13 sacks. Baltimore had to break the bank and pay Madubuike his due, a whopping $98M over four seasons. However, Dallas can avoid letting Odighizuwa price himself out of their market by opening negotiations now rather than waiting. You’d have to go back in Cowboys history, but Dallas had done this before with a defensive tackle when they signed Jay Ratliff early before his costs became too high. Ratliff was pretty good under his first extension with the Cowboys, and Dallas should take this opportunity to spin some straw into a potential goldmine.
DeMarcus Lawrence
DeMarcus Lawrence is entering his eleventh season in the NFL, all with the Dallas Cowboys. For years, Lawrence has been underappreciated for his contributions as a disruptive player, rushing the passer and stopping the run. Since teaming with Parsons, Lawrence has provided more flexibility, sometimes playing the 3-tech defensive tackle on passing downs. He and the team agreed to a reworked three-year, $40M contract in 2022.
In the final year of his deal, it’s possible it’s the end of an era for Lawrence and the team. 2014 was Lawrence’s rookie season, which coincided with Tony Romo’s final playoff, and the Prescott era was ushered in shortly after that with Lawrence as one of the team’s leaders. With a looming contract for Parsons, the awaited emergence of Sam Williams in his third season, and the Cowboys drafting Marshawn Kneeland in the second round of this year’s draft, 2024 could be his last ride with the Cowboys unless a new team-friendly contract is reached.
Editor’s note: See World Cup standings and scenarios updated in real time
The Socceroos live on at the 2026 World Cup.
Australia and Paraguay played to a 0-0 draw on Thursday night, which was good enough for Australia to secure second place in Group D and advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. Paraguay is likely to advance as a high-ranking third place team, but nothing is confirmed at the moment.
SHOP: Australia round of 32 World Cup tickets
Australia will head to Dallas where they will play their first elimination match on Friday, July 3 against the second-place team from Group G.
While we don’t yet know Australia’s opponent, we know the location, date and time of the match, which means tickets are already available. Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Australia World Cup tickets in Dallas.
Shop Australia Round of 32 tickets
Australia round of 32 World Cup tickets
As of publication, the cheapest round of 32 ticket to see Australia in Dallas on Friday, July 3 is $937. Any ticket for less than $1,000 at this point in the tournament is a steal considering most other prices.
Australia Round of 32 opponent
As the runner-up of Group D, Australia will take on the second-place finisher from Group G. Australia’s opponent will be finalized on Friday, but given the current standings it could be any of the following four teams:
- Egypt
- Iran
- Belgium
- New Zealand
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Australia World Cup schedule
- Australia vs. Turkey – WIN 2-0
- Australia vs. United States – LOSS 2-0
- Australia vs. Paraguay – DRAW 1-1
- Friday, July 3 – Australia vs. Group G runner up at AT&T Stadium in Dallas (round of 32) – Shop tickets
World Cup Group D Standings
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Editor’s note: See World Cup standings and scenarios updated in real time
Ivory Coast is headed to the knockout round at the 2026 World Cup.
With everything on the line Thursday afternoon, the Ivory Coast played perhaps its best match of the tournament so far to lock down second place in Group E and advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. Ivory Coast will head to Dallas where they will play their first elimination match on Tuesday, June 30 against the second-place team from Group I.
SHOP: Ivory Coast round of 32 World Cup tickets in Dallas
While we don’t yet know Ivory Coast’s opponent, we do know that it will either be France or Norway, meaning either way the African squad will have to defend against one of the best goal scorers in the world.
Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Ivory Coast World Cup tickets in Dallas.
Shop Ivory Coast Round of 32 tickets
Ivory Coast round of 32 World Cup tickets
As of publication, the cheapest round of 32 ticket to see Ivory Coast in Dallas on Tuesday, June 30 is $895, making this one of the cheapest tickets for the round of 32.
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Ivory Coast Round of 32 opponent
As the runner-up of Group E, Ivory Coast will take on the second-place finisher from Group I. Ivory Coast’s opponent will be finalized on Friday, but given the current standings it will be either France or Norway.
Shop Ivory Coast Round of 32 tickets
Ivory Coast World Cup schedule
- Sunday, June 14 – Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador – WIN 1-0
- Saturday, June 20 – Ivory Coast vs. Germany – LOSS 2-1
- Thursday, June 25 – Ivory Coast vs. Curacao – WIN 2-0
- Tuesday, June 30 (Round of 32) – Ivory Coast vs. Group I runner up at AT&T Stadium in Dallas – Shop tickets
World Cup Group E standings
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Oftentimes, it’s a good idea to extend players early. The Dallas Cowboys have learned this the hard way as they’ve allowed negotiations with key contributors such as Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons to get out of hand.
Prescott was able to use his leverage to land a contract worth $60 million per season, which was a record at the time. Lamb held out during that same offseason, eventually landing a deal worth $34 million annually, whereas Parsons forced his way out after his negotiations stalled.
To their credit, the Cowboys might have tried to avoid more issues by signing a few players early. That includes guard Tyler Smith, who landed a four-year, $96 million extension in 2025. That has proven to be a home run, but the same can’t be said for another one of their big extensions.
Dallas decided to lock up cornerback DaRon Bland, signing the former fifth-round pick to a four-year, $92 million extension. This was a surprise move from the Cowboys since Bland was coming off a frustrating season, which was marred by a foot injury. The Cowboys were banking on Bland returning to the form we saw in 2023, but that wasn’t the case.
Bland continued to struggle with durability and wasn’t the impact player we saw during his breakout season when he was on the field. Now, he enters his fifth season in the league with a hefty price tag, and there are questions about his long-term status with the team.
DaRon Bland’s cap hit in 2026 is a problem
According to Over The Cap, Bland has the fifth-highest cap hit on the team this season. Bland, who is earning an annual average salary of $23 million, has a hit of $17 million this year.
The good news for the Cowboys is that they seemed to protect themselves slightly with this deal. While they can’t feasibly move on in 2026, even if Bland loses his starting job, they do have a way out of his deal next year.
Dallas can release Bland ahead of the 2027 season while absorbing a dead cap hit of $12.941 million. That would essentially make his deal a two-year contract for $36.355 million. That’s still not an ideal situation for the Cowboys, but that’s also what happens when the front office rolls the dice.
It’s also an unfortunate trend, as the Cowboys decided to extend Michael Gallup and Terence Steele while coming off injury-plagued seasons, and the results weren’t much better.
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