The NFL draft will take place later this month. In this series, dallas cowboys He's at every position as the team prepares to make a selection in Detroit. The fifth player is wide receiver.
Through the first six weeks of last season, CeeDee Lamb only caught double-digit passes in a game once.
The Cowboys then readjusted their passing game. Adjustments include implementing the pre-snap motion popularized by the Miami Dolphins and recalibrating how targets are distributed. Lamb returned from a bye in Week 7 and set season highs with 12 catches, 158 yards, and two touchdowns in a win over the Los Angeles Rams.
he didn't look back.
Lamb finished 2023 with double-digit receptions in seven games. That's more than any player in a single season in NFL history. He is projected to become the highest-paid wide receiver in league history at some point in the coming months.
That's the beginning of the position group, but not the end.
Last month, the club released Michael Gallup after he underperformed in consecutive seasons due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
players on the roster
CeeDee Lamb: Before the bye he was targeted on 21.5% of his passes, but after the bye he was targeted 32.4% of the time. The latter ranked him second in the NFL during that span (Tyreek Hill, 35.4%).
Brandin Cooks: The crafty veteran scored eight touchdowns in his final 12 games despite few chances. I will be 31 years old in September.
Jaylen Tolbert: The most improved player on the 2023 team. What progress could he make next? More opportunities will come after he leaves Gallup.
Cavonte Turpin: Speedsters get more touches in the return game with NFL kickoff overhaul. Having a second full offseason with quarterback Dak Prescott also helps him offensively.
jalen brooks: Another benefactor due to Gallup's absence. He is a quick learner and his frame and ball skills make him a good target for quarterbacks in traffic. He caught all six passes in his direction for 64 yards.
Jalen Cropper: Keep an eye on this 22-year-old player. He spent all of 2023 as an undrafted rookie on the practice squad and earned a spot.
others: Martavis Bryant, David Durden, Lacey McMath
Strengths
One of the reasons Lamb is so efficient is his versatility. He can line up at any receiver position, including the slot where a player like Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey wasn't scheduled to follow him last Christmas Eve.
Lamb can also line up at running back. In the same game, the Cowboys used his presence in the backfield as a diversion with a misdirected throw that resulted in a fourth down. He was in the backfield again in the fourth quarter for Cooks' game-winning touchdown catch.
Keeping Lamb as well as the other receivers moving will unlock a lot of what the Cowboys do in the passing game.
Weakness
At one time, it looked like the Cowboys had three No. 1 players in Amari Cooper, Lamb and Gallup. Those days are over, and that fact is reflected in our 2023 target share.
Ram is the ace.
It's unrealistic to expect him to miss every game.
The defense will inevitably keep the ball away from Lamb and put the onus on his fellow wide receivers to keep it alive. The young players at this position will need to develop to ensure that those concerns don't come to a head during the most important period of the 2024 season.
3 draft targets
Ladd McConkie, Georgia: The Cowboys will have to say “I don't care about the offensive line” in the first round and take the best route runner in the draft and throw him a 12-6 curveball. Rationale: He fits their versatile profile, opens up quickly enough to make the offensive line's job easier, and his high-percentage throws can serve as an extension of the run game.
Malachi Corey, Western Kentucky: OK, so the team probably won't pull the trigger on a receiver on opening day. If Corey is available in the second round, he should be considered for many of the same reasons as Corey. It can open quickly from the slot while dealing damage after being caught.
Malik Washington, Virginia: Like Corey, Washington breaks tackles like a running back. He has great college tape and production from the slot and could be utilized in a deep class later on.
conclusion
The Cowboys would have to really love someone to select a wide receiver in the first few rounds. Given the pressing needs elsewhere and some intriguing young players already. However, the availability of talent makes this a difficult position to monitor. It's never a bad idea to make a quarterback's life easier.
Cowboys Draft Needs Series
— quarterback
— running back
— tight end
— Offensive line
— Details coming soon…
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