Tag: nfl draft rumors

Why the Cardinals should draft WR CeeDee Lamb

The Arizona Cardinals will have many options on who to select with the eighth overall pick come April. The best pick would be CeeDee Lamb out of Oklahoma.

The Arizona Cardinals may not have the level of draft speculation that they had a year ago with the 2019 first overall pick, but this year’s incoming class has generated tons of hype for the fanbase.

The Cardinals, sitting at pick No. 8, have a few pressing needs to fill this offseason. Lucky for them, many of their positions of need are available to them in a loaded free agency and draft class.

As fans are aware, the team will be upgrading the following positions this offseason: outside linebacker, inside linebacker, wide receiver, interior defensive line, and right tackle.

Debates about the best use of the 8th overall pick are already running wild, despite the fact that free agency hasn’t even started.

The Cardinals have been most heavily linked to offensive talent, as the team appears motivated to surround their Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning quarterback, Kyler Murray, with as many playmakers as possible.

There are valid arguments for many of the top prospects in this year’s draft class. The team could very much use a right tackle to solidify the protection for Murray. There are two great receivers likely available to the Cardinals, so there is a large part of the fanbase advocating for one of the two. The Cardinals could also address their porous 2019 defense. While top defensive players like Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah and Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons are likely to be gone by the eighth pick, there are still others like Auburn defensive Derrick Brown.

While there are many great players that would make the Cardinals a better ball club, one stands out amongst the rest as a dream scenario for the front office, head coach, quarterback, and fanbase.

Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb is the best fit for the Arizona Cardinals organization.

A glaring need in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense:

CeeDee Lamb brings the physical presence at receiver on the outside that Kliff Kingsbury’s offense is missing. Kingsbury undoubtedly wants a star receiver this offseason, as his offense struggled at times without one.

Lamb’s incredible college football career netted 3,292 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns in three years. His 807 receiving yards as a freshman broke the University of Oklahoma record for a freshman receiver. I imagine that qualifies as a star receiver, no?

Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray are rightfully praised for their major contributions in turning the Cardinals offense into a formidable unit in 2019. However, throughout all this hype for their potential in 2020, many fans seem to forget how the team mightily struggled in the red zone at times. That is one of the areas in which CeeDee Lamb helps this team in 2020 and beyond. Having a dominant outside receiver in the red zone does wonders for an offense, and even if the ball isn’t going Lamb’s way on a particular play, his presence alone draws defenders to him, giving other players a better chance to make a play.

The Cardinals relied on a potent rushing attack in 2019, highlighted by Kenyan Drake, David Johnson and the constant threat of Kyler Murray’s running ability. At times when the running game was shut down, the rest of the offense did so as well. Take the first matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, for example. Their dominant defensive line kept the Cardinal running game contained, and the team suffered their worst loss of the season.

Perhaps the most telling need for another receiver is this: There were only four instances throughout the entire 2019 season where a Cardinals receiver eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark(Larry Fitzgerald vs DET, BAL & Christian Kirk vs BAL, TB). While Kirk is expected to take another step forward next season, the numbers illustrate a missing component to this offense. That missing link is a dominant outside receiver, which is a void that could be filled by CeeDee Lamb.

Kliff Kingsbury did the most with limited playmakers in 2019. It could be fireworks in Arizona if he is given high-level talent like CeeDee Lamb.

Familiarity with Kyler Murray:

CeeDee Lamb’s junior year at Oklahoma was played alongside quarterback Kyler Murray. With Murray throwing him the ball, Lamb totaled 65 receptions, 1,158 yards, and 11 touchdowns.

A huge factor of Kyler Murray’s successful rookie campaign was his familiarity with the Kliff Kingsbury offense and his relationship with the first-year coach. It allowed Murray to step into the NFL and play well from the start.

The same scenario would likely be the case for CeeDee Lamb, as he played in the same offense as Kyler Murray. The two have already developed chemistry in their timing and execution during their days at Oklahoma. The familiarity of the scheme and the obvious relationship with Murray would give CeeDee Lamb the best chance to succeed early, and make an impact for 2020 and beyond.

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A chance to learn from one of the greatest

NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald committed to the team for another season. He may not put up the numbers he used to, but he still has arguably the best hands in the league and is the backbone of this organization.

With Fitzgerald nearing the end of his career, time is running short for the Cardinals to find someone to take over in his inevitable absence. By drafting CeeDee Lamb, the Cards are giving him a great opportunity to learn from one of the greatest of all time at his position. Fitzgerald was an active voice in the ear of Kyler Murray during his rookie development, and it’s safe to assume the same would be done for Lamb.

It’s a great opportunity for all parties. The Cardinals get two talented receivers in the short term, CeeDee Lamb gets to learn alongside Larry Fitzgerald, and the inevitable retirement of Fitz will be lessened by the presence of Lamb.

Final thoughts

Like I said, there are a ton of talented players available to the Cardinals in this year’s draft. There isn’t a wrong argument for who they should take with the 8th overall pick. Still, I believe the facts are evident enough to where the best player available to the Cardinals is clear.

CeeDee Lamb, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma

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Ep. 260

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Ep. 259

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Tua Tagovailoa says Cowboys would be his ideal landing spot

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wants to play for the Cowboys, and learn behind Dak Prescott

If given his pick, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would love to be wearing a star on his helmet the next time he takes the football field.

In an exclusive interview with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche, Tagovailoa was asked what his ideal scenario would be for landing with a team at the next level. His answer might come as a surprise.

Tagovailoa, who is still rehabbing from a season-ending hip injury, says the Dallas Cowboys would be his ideal landing spot, for multiple reasons:

If you’re saying to me, if I can choose what team I want to play on, as far as my favorite team growing up, then I probably tell you the Cowboys.

I’m not trying to bump (Dak Prescott) — I’ll learn under him. I’d handle it the way that the coaches there want to handle it. Honestly, I just want to be able play again. I wouldn’t mind learning under whatever guy that’s the starter. Give me a whole year to rest up and then go back out and compete, but I just want to go back out and play.

Prescott is set to become a free agent this offseason, but conventional wisdom says the Cowboys will end up striking a long-term deal to keep their franchise quarterback. Adding Tagovailoa as insurance or even an understudy would obviously be a wonderful scenario for Dallas, but considering they currently pick 17th in the first round, it’s highly unlikely they’ll come anywhere close to where Tagovailoa will come off the board.

So, unless the Cowboys make a huge move and decide to move on from Prescott and make a massive trade into the top five of the 2020 NFL draft, Tagovailoa’s ideal scenario will likely have to remain in the dream world.

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Rumor mill: Dolphins, Lions in talks for NFL Draft trade

It’s the time of year for rumors

It’s the time of year for rumors, and the Lions are involved in quite a few of them.

One example comes from Benjamin Allbright of Pro Football Network. His latest rumor: the Miami Dolphins have reportedly made calls to the Detroit Lions inquiring about trading up in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Miami is looking to trade up from their spot at fifth overall, likely to snag Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Lions, sitting at third, may miss out on the opportunity to take prolific pass-rusher Chase Young, but a trade like this could be beneficial to rebuilding the team.

Along with the fifth pick, Miami also holds two other first-round spots at eighteenth and twenty-sixth, as well as two second-round picks. Any of those picks could be in play if Detroit decides to trade down.

Trading down two spots and gaining an extra pick in the first two rounds would leave the Lions with plenty of top talent to choose from, including players like Ohio State cornerback Jeffery Okudah and Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons.