5. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 198
40-Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds
Bench Press: 11 reps
Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches
Broad Jump: 10 feet 4 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: From the moment he stepped on campus, CeeDee Lamb was contributing to the Oklahoma passing game. As a true freshman in 2017 Lamb caught 46 passes (on 68 targets) for 801 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 17.5 yards per reception. His numbers improved every single season he was on the field, jumping to 65 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore, and 62 receptions for 1,325 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. As a junior in 2019, Lamb averaged an incredible 21.4 yards per reception, the third-highest average in the nation and the highest among receivers with more than 40 receptions.
Stat to Know: 146.5. That is the passer rating Lamb generated on his targets over the past two seasons in Norman. I think NFL quarterbacks would love having someone like that to throw to.
Strengths: Another thing that will make Lamb’s NFL quarterbacks happy is the receiver’s catch radius. The idea of a “50/50 ball” goes out the window with Lamb’s ability to snare throws that seem to be off target:
Wherever you have CeeDee Lamb ranked, I assure you it’s far too low.
Bonafide stud. His catch radius, body control, hands are all outstanding. Playmaker and offers punt return flexibility. #devy pic.twitter.com/MnjF5re9C5
— Ray G 🏁 (@RayGQue) August 4, 2019
Then this is this play against UCLA that still looks absurd:
CeeDee Lamb WHAT? pic.twitter.com/WiFAuuyUyW
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 8, 2018
Wherever the pass is, Lamb can go and get it. He excels at the catch point, and does a tremendous job of high-pointing the football.
Lamb is also a technically sound route-runner, who is at his best on routes working back to the quarterback off the vertical stem. Curls, comebacks and hitches all see him rolling his hips down into the break and working back to the QB violently, gaining separation as he cuts. After the catch? Lamb is explosive there as well, and PFF charted him with 26 broken tackles last season, the most in the country. On the rare occasions when he faced press coverage, Lamb was able to win at the line of scrimmage by getting small and evading the jam, allowing him to get into his route quickly.
Weaknesses: Lamb’s top end speed is not elite, but the 4.5 that he ran at Indianapolis was perhaps a tic quicker than most expected from him. This could be a prime example of overthinking a prospect, because his catch radius and route-running means that even without elite speed, he is usually open enough. He also operated in a wide-open offense that generated a ton of free release for him, so despite his ability to beat press when he saw it, he’ll see a lot more of it when he moves to the league.
Conclusion: Unless you’re Al Davis and speed is the bottom line, Lamb is as clean as it gets from a WR prospect. His hands, catch radius and ability after the reception make him a fit for almost any offense, and he projects as an ideal “Z” receiver in most systems. He can operate effectively at all levels of the field, and is a genuine threat with the football in his hands in space. Teams that overthink his long speed and pass on him are going to regret that decision.
Comparison: PFF compared Lamb to DeAndre Hopkins in their draft guide, and the comparison is apt. He might not have the top end speed of other receivers, but his route-running and catch radius, plus his play style and projected NFL role, align well with Hopkins.