Cowboys end Lamb's slide at No. 17

The Dallas Cowboys selected wide receiver CeeDee Lamb out of Oklahoma in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 17th overall.

Lamb was in contention to be the first wideout off the board and projected to be a top-10 selection.

However, the Las Vegas Raiders opted for Henry Ruggs III at No. 12 and the Denver Broncos picked Jerry Jeudy at No. 15, giving Dallas an unexpected chance to add another weapon to its offense.

Lamb racked up 2,485 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns during his final two seasons at Oklahoma. He also averaged 21.4 yards per catch in 2019.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will now have one of the league's best receiving corps with the addition of Lamb.

The Cowboys retained top receiver Amari Cooper on a reported five-year, $100-million deal this offseason, while Michael Gallup produced 1,000 yards in his second campaign.

Prospect Profile

School: Oklahoma
Height: 6-2
Weight: 198 lbs

Positives

• Ideal size, frame, and production for a No. 1 wideout
• Alpha dog who is a home run threat on every play
• Very explosive off the line of scrimmage and out of breaks
• Quick cuts, strength, and balance make him extremely difficult to tackle
• Soft, reliable hands with very few drops on tape
• Ability to track the ball efficiently and possesses excellent body control to make difficult catches
• Smooth feet and able to drop his hips and change direction well
• Understands nuances of route-running - manipulates defenders with his body and separates using his physicality
• Excellent release against the press and off coverage - sets up defenders
• Awareness to recognize the soft spots in zones and work his way back to the quarterback on scrambles

Negatives

• Had a number of free releases off the line in Oklahoma's offense
• Can lose a bit of speed toward the end of his deep routes
• Disappointing athletic testing scores at the combine

Bottom Line

In a historic receiving class, Lamb may be the most exciting prospect. While he doesn't possess 4.3 speed or towering size, there are nearly endless traits to love about his game. The consensus All-American is a terror after the catch, offers elite ball skills, and is an advanced route-runner at every level of the field. Lamb makes plays other pass-catchers can't, and he makes most of them look easy. His skill set fits perfectly into any NFL offense and he has All-Pro potential. We don't care that he was the primary beneficiary of the matchup-friendly scheme that Lincoln Riley ran at Oklahoma - Lamb is a superstar who has all the tools to succeed regardless of his surroundings.