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2020 NFL Draft: CeeDee Lamb has Day 1 starter potential

By Nicholas McGee

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 28: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners rushes with the ball during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 28: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners rushes with the ball during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 28: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners rushes with the ball during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 28: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners rushes with the ball during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

CeeDee Lamb possesses an extremely polished skill set and can be a day one starter for the team lucky enough to land him in the 2020 NFL Draft.

CeeDee Lamb has plenty of competition in the fight to be the first receiver selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Alabama duo Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III are among those with a legitimate hope of going before any other wideout, but former Oklahoma star Lamb has a resume to rival that of every receiver in the class.

Lamb racked up 3,292 receiving yards and 33 total touchdowns in a magnificent collegiate career with the Sooners.

Far from being just a product of Lincoln Riley’s brilliantly designed offense, Lamb has the game to back up those gaudy numbers, as the tape from his time in Norman shows.

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Strengths

Lamb is as complete of a receiver prospect as there’s been in recent years, with a well-rounded skill set that should translate excellently to the next level.

Competitive at the catch point, Lamb attacks the football with his hands and demonstrates superb concentration. His body control enables him to consistently adjust to the flight of the ball and make NFL-level catches near the sideline while getting both feet in bounds.

Where Lamb most excels, however, is after the catch. The same body control that is pivotal to his skills at the catch point plays a crucial role in his ability to pick up yardage after the reception.

Lamb is extremely elusive in the open field; he consistently makes defenders miss and possesses the contact balance to stay on his feet through tackle attempts.

A well-refined route-runner, Lamb can win with footwork in his stem while his ability to gear down from top seed allows him to create separation on comeback routes. Blessed with impressive stop-start quickness, hesitation moves are also a crucial part of Lamb’s route-running repertoire.

What sets Lamb apart from so many receivers in the class is what he contributes in the blocking game. He is determined and aggressive as a blocker and was often critical to the success of Oklahoma’s running game and short screen passes. Lamb is a receiver who impacts the game regardless of whether he gets the ball.

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