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New York Jets: CeeDee Lamb is a dark horse option in 2020 NFL Draft

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 9: Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates his touchdown on a 63-yard pass and run with wide receivers Trejan Bridges #8 and Nick Basquine #83 in the game against the Iowa State Cyclones on November 9, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners lead 35-14 at the half. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 9: Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates his touchdown on a 63-yard pass and run with wide receivers Trejan Bridges #8 and Nick Basquine #83 in the game against the Iowa State Cyclones on November 9, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners lead 35-14 at the half. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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The New York Jets should strongly consider using their 2020 1st round pick on CeeDee Lamb. Here’s why he’s a dark horse and how he would fit on the team.

It’s time for the New York Jets to stop playing around and put their money where their mouth is.

On Monday’s episode of the Stick to Football podcast via Bleacher Report, NFL guru Connor Rogers handed Oklahoma superstar wideout CeeDee Lamb to the Jets in his mock draft with the projected fifth overall pick:

“My New York Jets, listen this isn’t a Joe Douglas pick but once again I don’t give a s*** because this is our mock draft and we get to do what we want. I’ll take CeeDee Lamb here.

You can make an argument for Jeff Okudah (Ohio State cornerback) or Andrew Thomas (Georgia, offensive tackle), but I feel like I’ve made that argument for those two the last couple of weeks so let’s have some fun and mix it up.

I think Lamb will finish as a top-5, top-10 player for me in this class. It just doesn’t look like the Jets are making Robby Anderson a focal point of this offense. So they’ll probably let him walk in free agency.

They love Jamison Crowder there, they love getting the tight ends involved, and Quincy Enunwa’s status is up in the air. All of those things mean one thing: the New York Jets need a No. 1 wide receiver that can play on the outside and that’s CeeDee Lamb.”

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— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) November 18, 2019

The New York Jets have a serious need at wide receiver. While it may not be the top need for the team, you can’t deny its importance.

The green and white have eight players on the roster who are listed at wide receiver. Two of them are out for the season (Josh Bellamy, Quincy Enunwa). One of them is actually a running back (Ty Montgomery). And none of them is a No. 1 weapon.

Robby Anderson is in the last year of his deal and the team has been hesitant to hand him a long term deal. Enunwa may never play football again and the Jets are already thinking of moving on from him. While all the other options are complementary at best.

The last time they drafted a wide receiver in the first round was 18 years ago (Santana Moss). Prior to that, the team had only drafted a wideout three times in the first round in team history:

  • Keyshawn Johnson, 1996, No. 1 overall
  • Al Toon, 1985, No. 10 overall
  • Lam Jones, 1980, No. 2 overall

The team also selected Rob Moore out of Syracuse in 1990 via the Supplemental Draft and that cost them a future first-round draft choice.

It may be time to go back to the wishing well to help their franchise quarterback out in Sam Darnold.

CeeDee Lamb is a 6-foot-2, 189-pound wideout from Oklahoma.

Every year of his college career he’s gotten exponentially better:

  • 2017: 46 receptions for 807 yards and seven touchdowns.
  • 2018: 65 receptions for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns.
  • 2019: 44 receptions for 983 yards and 13 touchdowns.
    • He still has two regular-season games and additional bowl/playoff contests to pad his stats even further.

According to Pro Football Focus, he’s the No. 2 rated wide receiver in the country:

“Lamb is leading the country in yards per route run at 4.44. The difference between him and the next closest draft-eligible receiver (DeVonta Smith, 3.75) is the same as the difference between second and 15th place.”

In terms of the cons against him as a prospect, many people think he’s got speed, but not elite speed which could hurt him at the next level.

Next. New York Jets: Top 10 2020 NFL free agents Gang Green should chase

While on the other side of the coin he’s been heralded for his exceptional ball skills, here’s more from The Draft Network:

“One of the most natural receivers I have ever seen in terms of hands, ball skills and tracking. Spectacular in the air. Gets after it as a blocker – collapses, keeps his frame square and engages his hands. Tough to tackle after the catch – features good contact balance, vision, acceleration, and creativity with the ball in his hands. Showcases a variety of techniques to beat press coverage including angles, footwork and hand usage.”

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