With the addition of CeeDee Lamb the Dallas Cowboys offense has the makings of a juggernaut for at least the next two seasons. The football gods smiled down upon Jerry Jones’ yacht on draft night 2020, allowing what could have been the most dynamic wide receiving threat of the class to somehow make his way down to No. 17 and into the Cowboys laps.
Already boasting one of the league’s best offenses and with the opportunity to break free from the shackles of Jason Garrett’s conservative nature, Dallas now boasts an arsenal which will give them a chance to be mentioned in the same breath as Kansas City and New Orleans.
Wide Receiver Flock
Lamb will join Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup and form one of the league’s most destructive wide receiver corps. Standing at 6-foot-2, and weighing 198 pounds, Lamb presents a physical, aggressive pass catcher and run blocker who excels after the catch and with physical contact.
Corners who shy away from contact are going to be placed in amber on film for all eternity against this dude.
Film Study – vs Alabama
Here’s a look at his best work, from a 2018 game against the Crimson Tide in 2018. In this Orange Bowl contest, he caught eight passes for 109 yards and one score.
Film Study – vs Texas Tech
In this game from the past season, he caught seven receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns against the Red Raiders.
Lamb’s Wool
How big a shock was it that Lamb was still available with the 17th overall pick? The Dallas Cowboys never even did a pre-draft interview with the Oklahoma wideout. That’s how unlikely it was that he’d even be an option.
Nearly every mock draft on the planet had Lamb being selected within the first twelve picks, so it would have been understandable if owner Jerry Jones and coach Mike McCarthy unexpectedly found themselves in scramble mode once the Cowboys were on the clock. They had a need in the secondary, they had a need on the defensive line, and they had been flirting with several names in the super-deep wide receiver class. LSU DE K’Lavon Chaisson (Jaguars), TCU WR Jalen Reagor (Eagles), LSU WR Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and Michigan center Caesar Ruiz (Saints) will be the players most often compared to Lamb over the course of their NFL careers.
Dallas’s decision seemed to come down to either Lamb or Chaisson. The buzz for Chaisson had been building in the days leading up to the draft, with even the Cowboys’ franchise sack leader DeMarcus Ware raving about the “monster” prospect and going so far as saying he reminded Ware of himself.
Dallas was always in the market for a wide receiver, but the hometown TCU product was seen as a more realistic possibility for the Cowboys. A slim speedster catching passes, Reagor also excels as a punt and kick returner. The Cowboys have a need in that capacity, too, and they could have checked both boxes by taking Reagor.
A true slot receiver was on the Cowboys’ wish list after losing Randall Cobb in free agency. Jefferson, who led the nation in 2019 with 111 receptions in his junior season at LSU, would have fit that bill perfectly. He’s got good size, runs well, has speed, possesses great body control, and displays strong hands.
Ruiz was universally considered the best interior offensive lineman in the draft class, and the type of player who could turn out to be elite at the center position. The Cowboys were said to “love” the 6-foot-4-inch, 320-pound Michigan junior.
The 17th slot was thought to be too high for Ruiz to be drafted; New Orleans drafted Ruiz with the 24th pick on Thursday night.
Lamb’s Chicken
Lamb will sign a four-year contract and Dallas will have the fifth-year option to keep the Oklahoma product within their clutches for the next half-decade at least. His contract parameters are set based on his draft slot.
Signing Bonus: $7,749,100
Total Salary: $14,010,014
2020 Cap Hit: $2,547,275
He’ll be the foundation of the Cowboys offense in a short period of time, the question is which of the two other top receivers will be with him beyond 2021.
Cooper’s five-year deal has an out after that season with minimal dead money compared to his contract. Gallup’s rookie deal expires that year as well. With having Lamb on the cheap, it’s most likely only one of the other two players are in Dallas for 2022, and it’s possible the club looks to reset opposite Lamb completely, based on how these next two seasons go.
Sheer Excellence
Here’s what the experts had to say about Lamb entering the draft. This is what Dallas has added to the equation.
Dane Brugler | The Athletic
WR Rank: 1 | 9th Overall
Lamb has quick hands and feet to give defenders the slip before and after the catch, showcasing the football IQ and athleticism that allows him to find open space downfield. There is a backyard football element to his game… a balanced athlete with the body fluidity of a much small player and the ball skills and competitive nature of a much bigger player, projecting as a high-ceiling NFL starter due to his playmaking instincts.
Kyle Crabbs | The Draft Network
WR Rank: 1 | 5th Overall
CeeDee Lamb projects as an alpha WR in the NFL. No, he doesn’t have elite top end speed, but Lamb checks damn near every other possible box. He’s smooth with his feet, possesses elite body control, vacuum hands and is a dynamic, angry runner after the catch.
Lance Zierlein | NFL.com
Prospect Grade: 6.81- Year one quality starter
Explosive, three-level playmaker and vital cog in one of the most potent offensive machines in college football over the last three seasons. Lamb uses speed and separation quickness to dominate competition in a scheme that frequently created open throws in space. Lamb has the potential to play any of the three receiver positions as a pro and should benefit greatly from the NFL’s continued movement toward college-style passing attacks.
Bob Sturm | The Athletic
Grade: High first round
On tape it is clear that his ball skills are elite, and he absolutely attacks the ball and then the defense with a confidence level you admire. He is so strong for his size, something that can be seen often as defenses try to corral him and contain him from another big play. He has jet sweep and swing pass ability, but he is just so scary in space. Sometimes, as Texas will confirm, he just cannot be tackled. He has nitro, too. Lots of nitro. His hips and sharpness are really impressive.
Matt Waldman | Rookie Scouting Portfolio
Grade: Franchise Player-Should start this year and compete for a role as a leading producer in the passing game. | WR Rank: 1
Lamb can play all three positions, but placing him in the slot would allow him to earn mismatches with safeties in the deep game or force a cornerback inside where Lamb will still feast on two-way opportunities. Lamb is also a physical blocker who punches, latches onto defensive backs, and turns them. His presence in the 11 personnel (3 WRs, 1 RB, and 1 TE) run game will be an asset.
Highlight Reels (NSFW music)
This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. With 87 days* remaining until the NFL’s first game, up next is tight end Cole Hikutuni.
| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory | Gerald McCoy | Dorance Armstrong |
| L.P. Ladouceur | DeMarcus Lawrence | Blake Jarwin |
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