2020 NFL Draft: NFC East rookie class standouts and sleepers

Standout – CeeDee Lamb

It was a near miracle that CeeDee Lamb fell to the Dallas Cowboys with the 17th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Nevertheless, the 2020 NFL rookie has a big opportunity ahead of him on America’s Team.

We’ll start with what we know Lamb is capable of, and it can be a long list given he was considered the best receiver in the class by some. Two of his three seasons at Oklahoma ended in at least 1,000 yards receiving, including a career-high 1,327 in his final season. Needing just 62 catches to get there, Lamb averaged over 21 yards per reception for the Sooners in 2019 while adding 14 touchdown receptions.

Now moving to the potential in the Dallas offense, there are receptions to be accounted for. Sure, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup each had 1,000 yards receiving in 2019, but that doesn’t mean Lamb couldn’t also hit the mark in 2020.

Randall Cobb and Jason Witten finished last season third and fourth respectively in receiving yards for Dallas last season and both departed from the team. Combined they hauled in 118 catches for over 1,300 yards and seven touchdowns. Those receptions have to go somewhere and Lamb is the most logical suitor.

The other thing to consider is that Mike McCarthy is now the Head Coach in Dallas, which could complicate things. The 2016 version of Jordy Nelson was the last receiver to total 1,000 receiving yards in a full season under McCarthy, while the 2014 duo of Nelson and Cobb was the last pair to both have over 1,000 yards, meaning it could be very difficult for three players to hit the milestone in a single season under McCarthy.