I know, dumb title. Look, when you have written up bios on how many players, you run out of good titles. However, when talking about CeeDee Lamb, I think that’s the real question here. I still can’t fully decide whether Lamb or Jerry Jeudy is the WR1 of the 2020 NFL Draft. What I do know is that if everything goes right for the Oklahoma product, Lamb is the guy you want.
Jerry Jeudy holds that trump card for being a top tier route runner. Historically, that’s meant everything in the past. Alabama even has a good track record to prove it. Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, and Calvin Ridley have been their own technicians. It’s probably a good sign Jeudy won’t outright fail either.
The problem is Jeudy probably profiles as a better version of Calvin Ridley. 6-foot-1, 193, Jeudy isn’t physically imposing. Jeudy has plus speed and plus route running but he doesn’t have the body like Julio Jones, AJ Green, Michael Thomas, or DeAndre Hopkins. There’s something to be said for how a number one wide receiver looks like. CeeDee Lamb looks like one.
Lamb is taller and bigger than Jeudy. His 40 time of 4.50 falls right in line with Michael Thomas and DeAndre Hopkins. Jeudy might have speed and route running on his size, but what if Lamb is Hopkins? He very well might be. The talent that Jeudy has isn’t hard to spot. There is something to be said for the way CeeDee Lamb dominates. He has moments that pop off the screen and I’m not quite sure how you quantify it.
Lamb has is the whole package. He plays inside and outside. The thing that might separate Lamb from the class is his ability to be a playmaker with the ball in his hands. Lamb is tremendous with the ball in his hands while also being able to make ridiculous plays with the ball in his hands. I truly see flashes of Chad (Ocho Cinco) Johnson.
The Sooners wide receiver averaged 21.4 yards per reception in 2019. That’s ridiculous. Yes, I’m aware Big 12 defenses are ass but the plays Lamb made with the ball in his hands aren’t normal.
The game that Lamb had against Texas wasn’t even human. He really does things that make you question whether he’s an alien. Don’t ask me how he scored on some of these plays.
Lamb’s talent just pops off the screen. There is no question he has more talent than Marquise Brown who was taken in the first round in last year’s draft. Lamb is a more complete receiver in college. The other thing that’s so impressive with Lamb is that he carried this program. He was the most valuable non quarterback in the country on the offensive side of the ball. Forget about the college football playoff. Without CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma probably loses another 4 games.
Lamb truly pops off the screen. When you watch CeeDee Lamb, you just see star potential. He does things that aren’t normal. Add in his absurd catch radius. This catch he made at the combine is something I can’t get out of my head.
It’s hard to quantify his production. How much of it is Lincoln Riley? How much of it is playing Big 12 competition? Imagine if he had an actual lightning rod quarterback instead of Jalen Hurts? Lamb finished the year with 62 receptions for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. That’s probably not what is important. What stands out is Lamb jumps off the screen and portrays all the star qualities you look for in a number one wide receiver.
So how good is CeeDee Lamb? There is a lot to like. It’s hard to define an exact baseline when it comes to Lamb but there is no denying there is star potential here. If you’re looking for a top tier wide receiver, it’s going to be hard to pass on someone like CeeDee Lamb.
