Cowboys relying on CeeDee Lamb being able to assume No. 1 receiver position – Dallas Cowboys Weblog

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys gave CeeDee Lamb the No. 88 for a cause.

They higher be proper.

With the Cowboys agreeing to trade large receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns, Lamb, their first-round choose in 2020, ascends to the clear-cut No. 1 receiver position. By buying and selling Cooper, the Cowboys open up $16 million in cap room.

No. 88 is sacred in Dallas historical past. Perhaps not as sacred as No. 12 for Cowboys legend Roger Staubach or possibly even No. eight for three-time Tremendous Bowl champ Troy Aikman. However with Corridor of Fame receivers Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin, in addition to Dez Bryant having worn No. 88, there may be stress on whoever wears the quantity to play as much as the usual.

In his first two years, Lamb has dealt with it properly. However the stress will get ratcheted up this season.

He has to grow to be quarterback Dak Prescott‘s go-to man the way in which Pearson was for Staubach, the way in which Irvin was for Aikman and the way in which Bryant was for Tony Romo.

“He is a playmaker, and once you’re very skillful and you’ve got nice consciousness it is simple to get on the identical web page,” Prescott mentioned of Lamb throughout final season. “That is credit score to him of simply being a younger participant and speaking by every part, us speaking, whether or not it is possibility routes or whether or not it is no matter it’s.”

In his first two seasons, Lamb has 153 receptions for two,037 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named to the Professional Bowl in 2021 as an harm substitute after placing up 79 receptions for 1,102 yards and 6 touchdowns.

The Cowboys by no means thought they have been going to have the ability to draft Lamb in 2020. They figured he could be lengthy gone earlier than they picked at No. 17 and couldn’t move on a participant that they had slotted among the many prime 10 gamers on their draft board.

Lamb has had some electrical moments in his first two seasons. His greatest got here within the time beyond regulation win on the New England Patriots wherein he caught 9 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns, together with a 35-yard landing move to win the sport.

“I contact the ball any further, it is positively developing as a catch,” Lamb mentioned after the win over the Patriots. “That is how I play.”

• Preview guide » | Top 100 » | Buzz »
• Grading big deals » | Who got tagged? »
• Simulating offers, deals for six stars »
• Overrated, underrated » | Team fits »
• Deep positions » | NFL execs on QBs »
More NFL free agency coverage »

The Cowboys have used him as a punt returner and have even given him the ball as a tailback.

However there have been too many moments the place Lamb has not been an element.

Have a look at their final sport, the wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He caught one move for 21 yards.

Whether or not it was the fault of the sport plan, the eye from San Francisco or him, that may’t be the case now. He additionally must decrease his team-leading seven drops from 2021.

Earlier than Cooper arrived in a commerce from the Raiders in 2018, Prescott struggled to succeed in 200 yards a sport in passing. That was with Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson, Cole Beasley and a rookie Michael Gallup as his pass-catchers.

Cooper modified the dynamic however Prescott has developed tremendously since then, too. He must show he can stay a powerful passer with out Cooper simply as Lamb must show he is usually a No. 1. The Cowboys clearly consider that’s the case with Prescott since they signed him to a $40 million-a-year contract final March.

And Prescott could have a greater crew round him from the start in 2022 than he had in 2018, beginning with Lamb.

Gallup is near remaining on a multiyear contract maybe as quickly as early subsequent week however he’ll probably begin the season on the bodily unable to carry out listing due to surgical procedure to restore a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in February.

The Cowboys positioned the franchise tag on tight finish Dalton Schultz, protecting Prescott’s safety blanket within the fold for at the very least yet one more season.

The Cowboys are more likely to lose receiver Cedrick Wilson in free company subsequent week however might add assist in the veteran market or early within the upcoming draft.

Lamb, nevertheless, has to make the following step in his growth.

And it must be worthy of the No. 88.