The Broncos have had their eyes on all the top wide receiver prospects so far during the draft process, all but tipping their hand that they want to add one of these playmakers early in the draft.
CeeDee Lamb is a prospect with whom they have met at the combine, and is one of the “big three” elite wide receivers in the class.
Lamb burst onto the scene at Oklahoma earning Freshman All-American honors as he racked up 46 catches for 807 yards and 7 touchdowns playing with first round pick Baker Mayfield. Lamb continued his playmaking in his sophomore year, catching 65 balls for 1,158 yards, and 11 touchdowns.
Watching CeeDee Lamb in #BeastMode will never get old.#OUDNA | #BoomerSoonerpic.twitter.com/vCxcg1GNbb
— Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) April 5, 2020
Lamb went into 2019 as one of the top wide receivers in the country and didn’t disappoint. He was named first-team Associated Press All-American, was a Biletnikoff Award finalist, and first-team All-Big 12. Last year, with Jalen Hurts at the helm, Lamb dominated the Big 12 with 1,327 yards (#6 overall) on only 62 receptions which gave him the 3rd best yards per catch in college football. He also finished top five in the country with 14 receiving touchdowns.
CeeDee Lamb
Junior | Wide Receiver | Oklahoma
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 198 pounds | 40-Time: 4.5 seconds
Arm Length: 32 1/4”| Hands: 9 1/4”
Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches | Broad Jump: 124.0 inches
Catch radius? More like catch circumference, amirite? pic.twitter.com/jJ8sVg9dUx
— Jeffrey Essary (@JeffreyEssary) March 1, 2020
Film Room
Thread on CeeDee Lamb: pic.twitter.com/q3rgYtlQFu
— NFL Film Review (@NFLFilmReview) April 7, 2020
Scouting Report
- Big play guy all throughout college, both down the field and after the catch
- Elite catch radius
- Excellent contested catch ability
- Not a top-shelf route runner, but good at creating subtle separation at the top of routes
- Explosive and extremely difficult to bring down with the ball in his hands
- 26 broken tackles, which was 2nd in all of college football last year
- Shows great vision on screens and short passes
- Competitive and nasty blocker on the outside
- Incredible hands
- Not a burner. Straight line speed is just ok
- A lot of his big plays were schemed open by Lincoln Riley’s offense
- Not an elite athlete, but wins in other ways at and after the catch point
- Absolutely can be a #1 guy on the outside in the NFL
Obviously he did it enough to dominate the Big12 and really have explosive plays no matter who he played against. But what it told me was.. if he really worked at THAT.. he can be great. He has everything else. He had all the tools. I’m a believer.. WR1
— CrockTIME (@eric_crocker) April 7, 2020
Summary: I’m not a big NFL comp guy, but when I watch CeeDee Lamb I see a guy who wins like Deandre Hopkins does, with potential (key word) to be a similar player at the next level.
What analysts are saying about CeeDee Lamb
Explosive, three-level playmaker and vital cog in one of the most potent offensive machines in college football over the last three seasons. Lamb uses speed and separation quickness to dominate competition in a scheme that frequently created open throws in space. His routes will need to become more efficient and crisp to beat man-to-man coverage against NFL size and speed, but his ball skills and explosiveness with the ball in his hand should allow teams to scheme him into explosive opportunities right away. Lamb has the potential to play any of the three receiver positions as a pro and should benefit greatly from the NFL’s continued movement toward college-style passing attacks.
The Draft Network’s Kyle Crabbs
CeeDee Lamb projects as an alpha WR in the NFL. No, he doesn’t have elite top end speed, but Lamb checks damn near every other possible box. He’s smooth with his feet, possesses elite body control, vacuum hands and is a dynamic, angry runner after the catch. Experienced in manufactured touches, boundary and slot work, Lamb should step into an offense and be comfortable filling any possible role than a coach could give him. A top-shelf WR prospect and impact starter early on.
Lamb is a tall, lean wideout with top-tier hands, toughness and production. He lines up inside and outside. He is a smooth, fluid route runner and understands how to set up cornerbacks. He also has a good feel in zone. He attacks the ball when working back to the quarterback and tracks the ball naturally down the field. Lamb doesn’t have elite speed, but he can find some extra juice when the ball is in the air. He is at his best after the catch, as he consistently breaks tackles and is also very elusive. Overall, Lamb is a polished player who is equally explosive and reliable.
It’s a loaded class, but Lamb is at the top for me. He came into the season with a lot of expectations with both QB Kyler Murray and WR (Marquise) Hollywood Brown gone to the NFL. Both were first-round picks last year. Lamb comes back with a new quarterback in Jalen Hurts and even though Hurts was up and down as a passer, CeeDee Lamb exploded. It’s a big part of what he does … He just understands how to manipulate coverage and he has the finishing skills that he can turn small plays into big plays.
Does CeeDee Lamb make sense for the Denver Broncos?
Do you like wide receivers who make big plays down the field and are extremely dangerous with the ball in their hands?
Denver is clearly looking for a top shelf wide receiver to pair with Courtland Sutton and Lamb is one of the best three wide receivers in the this class. I’m not going to get into a ranking discussion between he, Ruggs, and Jeudy because I think each of them bring something unique to an offense as Joe Rowles likes to say, it’s kind of like ‘pick your flavor of ice cream’.
People will look at Lamb’s 40 time as a knock against him, but his 10-yard split is in the 99th percentile of wide receivers, showing he has excellent explosion off the line. I know most fans are looking for someone who is more of a deep speed threat, but Lamb would absolutely provide the explosive aspect to the offense that Denver wants, especially across from Sutton.
Imagine the trio of Sutton, Lamb, and Fant after the catch and in the red zone.
Lamb uses a very Hopkins-esque push off to create separate here.
— NFL Film Review (@NFLFilmReview) April 7, 2020
CeeDee Lamb didn't see his a lot of press coverage in college. I feel comfortable with his able to make contested catches and uses his physicality to either create separation or box out defenders in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/TKqJ9nCgCZ