CeeDee Lamb is seen by many as the top receiver in what’s been described as a legendary 2020 NFL Draft class, but not everyone is convinced he’ll be a star at the next level.
Bob McGinn of The Athletic posted a detailed column about the receivers and tight ends of this year’s draft class on Wednesday, citing scouts he interviewed. Interestingly, while Lamb edged out Jerry Jeudy of Alabama as the top receiver in a poll McGinn conducted, at least two scouts were not high on his NFL potential.
One scout said, “I don’t think he’s a superstar. Lamb kind of maximizes what he has.”
Another scout wasn’t nearly as kind.
“He’s wildly overrated,” the scout said, per McGinn. “I don’t see an overwhelming trait. A lot of people point to his run after the catch, but I think you have to evaluate the guys trying to tackle him. He’s playing against some really bad Big 12 defenses. You’re just not going up against NFL people in that league. I’m just not a big believer in his skill set transitioning.”
The point about the Big 12 is certainly valid. The conference is known for not having much defense, so it’s worth wondering if Lamb’s incredible after-the-catch exploits (like this) can be replicated at the NFL level. But it’s hard to imagine that Lamb would end up being a bust at the NFL level, regardless.
To that point, it’s not crazy to wonder if the scouts who downplayed Lamb’s abilities may work for teams that actually love him and hope he drops into their laps. It’s lying season in the NFL, after all.