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2020 NFL Draft: The year of the wide receiver

By Ryan Roberts

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners completes the catch for a touchdown in the fourth quarter during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners completes the catch for a touchdown in the fourth quarter during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

The Big 12 Showdown: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma

Next on this journey into the 2020 NFL Draft wide receiver class, we move west where there are several Big 12 prospects that will present a battle to get atop the wide receiver big board once draft time rolls around again.

During the 2019 NFL Draft, we saw Oklahoma speedster Marquise Brown capture the crown as the top wide receiver off of the board to the Baltimore Ravens at the 22nd pick. As we move forward, it turns out that Brown may not have even been the best receiving prospect during his time in Norman.

Rising junior wideout CeeDee Lamb was often overshadowed in favor of the big play potential of Brown, but he presents a profile that may just make him the safer of the two wide receiver prospects. Listed at 6-2 and 189 pounds, Lamb presents a long, lean frame that he uses to his full advantage during his work along the sideline. He has made some of the most breathtaking toe-tapping grabs you will ever see, at least since Santonio Holmes’ game winner in Super Bowl XLIII.

There is a subtleness to Lamb’s game, showing an effortless ability as a route runner. His transitions are seamless, but what sets him apart is his ability to attack leverage. That ability is maintained without much wasted movement. Subtle head fakes, smooth hips, easy explosion off the line and ability to get off the ground — he has it all.

Perhaps Lamb’s best work takes place when the football is in the air, demonstrating what might be the best hands in the 2020 NFL Draft cycle. Lining up mostly on the outside for the Sooners, Lamb has demonstrated on several reps being able to play on the inside as well. This presents him as a perfect candidate for the Z-receiver spot. There, Lamb can be utilized in short motions, continuing to feast further on weak defensive back leverage.

I’m not ready to anoint him WR2 behind Jerry Jeudy, but he is definitely in the conversation. With the absence of Marquise Brown in this high octane Sooner offense, expect a huge statistical season for Lamb on his way to a first-round selection in 2020.

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