NFL Draft News: Dallas Cowboys Adds CeeDee Lamb To Potent Offensive Attack

On Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys sat at the 17th overall pick in this year’s online, NFL Draft. America’s team was originally planning to choose a player to help out the secondary, or block up the inside with the linebackers. What they did not expect, was for standout wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to still be around. The stars ended up taking the gamble on the young wideout and decided to keep the defensive rebuild on hold for the time being. 

As most of the first round on Thursday consisted of QBs, offensive lineman, defensive tackles, and some wide receivers, it can only be assumed that defense will be the main focus of coaches and GM’s approaches on Friday going into the second and third rounds. 

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones stated that Lamb was sixth on their draft board, but he ended up going after Alabama duo Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy.

The Cowboys may just have the classic no-defense dilemma in 2020-2021, as they have an extremely talented and young offensive core to keep their struggling defensive lineup afloat. There is no question about the abilities of star running back Ezekiel Elliot, QB Prescott and wideout Amari Cooper. Lamb adds another young route-runner poised to help take the Cowboys offense to new heights. 

Lamb posted 62 catches, 1,327 yards, and nine touchdowns in his junior campaign this past season, while averaging a stellar 21.4 yards per reception. 

Lamb said on a conference call after the pick that he is “very comfortable in the slot. I’m very versatile, and I can’t wait to be out there. I feel comfortable at all positions on the field.”

The young receiver continued his praise of the team and the star-studded offense, saying, “It’s huge just to a part of that. I just want to be a huge contributor to the Cowboys offense, and I can’t wait to be there.”

Lamb’s now-former coach Lincoln Riley chimed in to celebrate the wideout’s big day this Thursday. “I’m very thrilled for CeeDee and his family. Been there with him since day one and remember watching him when he was a sophomore in high school. The progression he’s made since then and the impact he made on the OU program and our university is just absolutely tremendous. Really excited for him here at the next level with the Cowboys. I think he’s got a great chance to have a long and very prosperous career.”

Lamb’s first round selection makes back-to-back years with Sooner wideouts going on the first day, marking back to Marquise Brown’s departure to the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. 

Lamb is fresh off one of the most incredible Sooner careers for a receiver in the programs history. Lamb owns two of the top seven receiving yardage seasons in school history and is third on the all-time list in career yards. Not to forget his number 2 spot on the all-time touchdown list at OU as well. 

After the Cowboys pick last night, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein gave his impression of the young receiver. Zierlein says of Lamb, “explosive, three-level playmaker and vital cog in one of the most potent offensive machines in college football over the last three seasons. 

Zierlein says Lamb’s “routes will need to become more efficient and crips to beat man-to-man coverage against NFL size and speed, but his ball skills and explosiveness with the ball in his hand should allow teams to scheme him into explosive opportunities right away.”

While unexpected,  Jones and new coach Mike McCarthy are more than excited about their luck on Thursday, and they plan to implement the young wideout into their already star-studded offensive arsenal. 

Article by Andrew Wallman