Detroit Lions: Should CeeDee Lamb be the first-round draft target?
By Bob Heyrman
As the NFL Draft approaches, well, as of now, we are expecting it to be business as usual during a very unusual time in the world. What if the Detroit Lions decided to draft an offensive player with their first-round draft choice?
Some good news for Detroit Lions fans, and football fans in general during this dark, devastating time. The NFL is currently planning on having the NFL draft as expected, but without any fans in attendance, likely online as we the fans watch in real-time as the picks come in. I’m a bit devastated as I had plans to attend the event in Las Vegas, but I understand the health concerns, the pandemic the world has on its hands.
To be quite frank, I’m not sure the NFL draft will take place on time if this deadly COVID-19 virus continues to overload our health system. This once in a lifetime tragedy needs to be taken seriously, and sports can wait. We continue to write because if you are reading this, you’ve likely enjoyed or at least been entertained by us in the past. We’re trying to bring some ‘normal’ back into your life for a minute or two per day.
So, the NFL draft will take place at some point. Many experts expect the Detroit Lions to select cornerback Jeff Okudah out of Ohio State if his college teammate Chase Young is off the board. But what if the Lions select receiver CeeDee Lamb?
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The Detroit Lions have spent the majority of the offseason focusing on repairing the teams’ atrocious defense. I understand Jeff Okudah or defensive tackle Derrick Brown walk in and start day one. Both are standouts at their positions, but don’t sleep on Lamb. He’s a superstar receiver, a game wrecker.
Some fans will immediately balk at the idea of drafting a receiver this high, stating drafting a wide receiver this high is a luxury and Detroit isn’t in a position to make luxury picks– understandably so but Lamb is special.
The Detroit Lions would have the opportunity to deploy Lamb alongside Kenny Golladay, the leagues’ touchdown leader from a year ago. Blend those two with Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola, and T.J. Hockenson Detroit might have the best receiving group in the league.
Do the Lions need an Okudah-type corner? Yes, but don’t forget Golladay, Jones, and Amendola have just one year left on their current deals. Golladay is expected to be re-signed, hopefully as soon as this summer, but the other two are likely to be expendable.
Having the trio of Golladay, Lamb, and Hockenson long-term is a quarterback’s dream. Imagine what Matthew Stafford would do with that group. This year is considered to be a receiver-heavy draft class, and the high-end talent will be selected before Detroit picks in the second round.
The Oklahoma product averaged a whopping 21.4 yards per reception last season. Lamb caught 62 balls totaling 1327 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019 with the Sooners. Lamb at 6’2 isn’t a blazer, but his 4.5, 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine was respectable.
In three years at Oklahoma, Lamb amassed 3292, receiving yards on 173 catches averaging 19-yards per catch. He also totaled 32 receiving touchdowns.
Trending. Three free agents left for Bob Quinn to sign. light
Okudah is likely the second-best defender in the entire draft, but Lamb is a flawless receiver. Drafting Lamb would provide a much more impactful player on a game to game basis. I expect when Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia make Detroit’s first-round choice, it will be on the defensive side of the football, but Lamb would make for a very intriguing pick.