Amari Cooper knows CeeDee Lamb is ready to lead Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys received some puzzling looks for using a first-round pick on CeeDee Lamb, as the presence of Amari Cooper made wide receiver a position of strength back then. However, following Cooper’s trade to the Cleveland Browns, Lamb has stepped into the WR1 role.

Making the transition from the secondary to the primary receiver role is extremely difficult due to the increased attention Lamb will receive from opposing defenses. It takes someone with the physical tools and mental fortitude needed to make their presence felt.

After studying under Cooper for the past two seasons, Lamb has hopefully picked up enough tricks of the trade to become Dak Prescott’s primary perimeter target for the next half-decade. Lamb’s former teammate is very bullish on his potential in this role.

If Cooper’s prediction is proven to be accurate, the Cowboys’ offense will be in for a major boost in production. 

In an interview with 96.7 The Ticket, Cooper said that Lamb has “been ready” for the opportunity to be a featured receiver at the NFL level.

Cooper cites a game against the Vikings in which Lamb called for (and successfully pulled off) a fade route as the watershed moment that let Amari know No. 88 is prepared.

CeeDee Lamb could step up for the Dallas Cowboys, says Amari Cooper

Lamb caught 79 passes for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns last season. Even with an injury-plagued two-week stretch where he caught just three passes, Lamb was productive and more refined as a route-runner. The improvement from his rookie season is as clear as day.

Outside of Lamb, this receiver room has some questions. Will Michael Gallup be the same after his injuries? Can James Washington put a disappointing tenure in Pittsburgh behind him? Is Jalen Tolbert going to produce as a rookie? Lamb seems to be the one thing this team can rely on.

Lamb will get a crash course in some of the tough defenses Cooper had to go up against. On top of the fact he will need to navigate Philadelphia’s Darius Slay and a strong Washington defense next year, the offense as a whole might struggle without Cooper’s ability to make difficult catches in clutch situations.

Even with all of those factors, the Cowboys drafted Lamb for this exact day. After years of marinating as Cooper’s understudy, the former Sooner dynamo is ready for a featured role. 100 catches might not be an unrealistic goal for a player of his caliber.

5 Mike McCarthy replacements the Cowboys should have on speed dial

The pressure is building on Mike McCarthy to deliver this year. If he doesn't, the Cowboys should have these five people on their mind.