2020 NFL Draft prospect profile: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

The 2020 wide receiver class has the potential to be one of the best, or perhaps even the best, in recent memory. Any one of the top receivers has the potential to be WR1 in just about any other draft class and it’s impossible to stop at just a “Top 10” when listing the best prospects.

But even in a draft class this thoroughly talented, a player like Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb stands out. Lamb has been wildly productive since stepping on the field at Norman, Oklahoma. It helps that he’s had three NFL-caliber passers throwing him the ball in one of the best offensive schemes at any level of football, but Lamb’s ability still shines through.

The New York Giants could certainly use a true “number one” wide receiver to open up their entire offense. Could Lamb be that guy for them, perhaps in a trade back scenario?

Prospect: CeeDee Lamb (WR, Oklahoma)
Games Watched: vs. Alabama (2018), vs. Houston (2019), vs. Iowa State (2019), vs. Baylor (2019 - Conference Championship)
Red Flags: None

Measurables

Stats

Games Played: 40

Receptions: 173
Yards (YPC): 3,292 (19.0 per catch)
Total Touchdowns: 32

2019 Stats

Games Played (starts): 13

Receptions: 62
Yards (YPC): 1,327 (21.4 per catch)
Total Touchdowns: 14

Quick Summary

Best: Run after catch, ball skills, competitive toughness, contact balance, flexibility, versatility
Worst: Size, consistency
Projection: A starting receiver with Pro Bowl potential in an offense that creates run after catch opportunities.

Game Tape

Full Report

Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb features a long, lean frame with very good flexibility, agility, and short-area quickness. Lamb lined up across the Oklahoma offense, playing at left and right wide receiver, in the slot, and occasionally taking snaps attached to the offensive line.

Lamb has a good release off the line of scrimmage, using footwork and his hands to clear jams while also having the ability to be sudden against off coverage. He also showed a nuanced variety in his route running, using head and body fakes as well as variations in route tempo to disrupt defensive backs’ timing. Lamb also shows a good sense for pressing his route stems vertically to create separation when working back to the football.

Lamb adjusts his routes to find open field against zone coverage and flashes the ability to make crisp, sudden breaks out of his routes.

He has a very big catch radius, locating the ball, adjusting, and extending to pluck it out of the air. Lamb has strong hands and very good body control to make difficult catches.

Lamb’s calling card is his ability to create with the ball in his hands. He shows very good fluidity, flexibility, and contact balance as a ball carrier, as well as great field vision. He is able to identify defenders, lower his center of gravity and contort his body to create missed tackles, and have a good burst through running lanes.

He also shows good competitive toughness to run through tackle attempts and lay hits of his own as a blocker.

Lamb’s game can be too flexible and fluid at times, with his routes becoming rounded. He flashes the ability to make quick, sudden breaks, he can also round his routes too much, making it easier for defensive backs to stay with him. Lamb can also suffer concentration drops at the catch point. At times it seems as though he is planning his YAC attempts before he catches the ball and can get his hands crossed. Lamb also has only average long speed and could struggle to run away from defenders at the NFL level.

Overall Grade: 7.0 - Has above average traits in nearly all areas and should be an immediate starter for any team that drafts him. Has the potential to be a top player at his position. [Grading Scale]

Projection

CeeDee Lamb projects as a starting wide receiver who can succeed in just about any offense. He has all the traits necessary to be a perennial 1,000-yard receiver at the NFL level and a dependable weapon in any offensive scheme.

That being said, he has the potential to be a truly dangerous player in an offense which offers him consistent opportunities to create after the catch. Lamb is very good on a down-to-down basis, with the ability to get the job done against a variety of coverages. But he truly shines with the ball in his hands and a sliver of daylight. His contact balance and flexibility are truly special and his ability to contort, drop his hips, minimize his surface area, weather tackle attempts and explode down the field is rare. He has very good vision and enough speed to maintain separation once he gains it.

Lamb has all the traits needed to be a number one receiver, but added consistency at the top of his routes and at the catch point will only help to take his game to the next level.