Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys (as they should be doing this year) were seemingly leaning toward selecting a defensive player with their first-round pick at No. 17 overall. More specifically, a pass-rusher seemed to be the play, as Robert Quinn, who led America's Team with 11.5 sacks in 2019, had left in free agency to sign with the Chicago Bears.
K'Lavon Chaisson was the man most mock drafts had the Cowboys taking, and when they went on the clock, the LSU standout was still there on the board. But surprisingly—and much to the delight of Jerry Jones—so was Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. And as we all know, that's the direction Dallas took.
Lamb certainly wasn't supposed to be there at No. 17, and as the sixth selection as part of his top 10 most foolish draft picks of the last decade, USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz called out the Las Vegas Raiders for making Henry Ruggs the first wideout taken at No. 12 overall when so many others were available.
"Fresh off the Antonio Brown debacle, the Raiders struck out for another speedy receiver in Ruggs," Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. "Few others anticipated the Alabama product to be the first pass catcher taken in a loaded class at the position, as former teammate Jerry Jeudy (who went No. 15 to the Denver Broncos) and CeeDee Lamb (No. 17 to the Dallas Cowboys) were more highly regarded by most."
Ruggs, of course, was cut midway through his second season with the Raiders after his involvement in a high-speed crash that ultimately killed a 23-year-old woman, for which he was later sentenced to three to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of felony DUI resulting in death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
CeeDee Lamb is already one of the greatest WRs in Dallas Cowboys history
As mentioned, Jerry Jeudy was also taken ahead of Lamb at No. 15 overall by the Broncos. The Alabama alum played decently enough in Denver over four years but never posted a 1,000-yard season until he was traded to the Cleveland Browns, with whom he earned his first and still only Pro Bowl nod in 2024 with a career-high 90 catches for 1,229 yards.
As for Lamb, who was the first wideout taken by Dallas in the first round since Dez Bryant in 2010, he's basically been one of the best players at his position from the moment he was given that same famous No. 88 to wear.
After tallying 935 receiving yards as a rookie, the second-most in franchise history behind only "Bullet" Bob Hayes (1,003), Lamb has hit the 1,000-yard mark every year since and has earned five consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl and three total All-Pro selections, with one First-Team nod and two Second-Team selections.
And that First-Team All-Pro season in 2023 was historic, as he set new franchise marks with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards, breaking the previous marks set by Michael Irvin, who recorded 111 catches for 1,603 yards for the Cowboys in 1995, which, of course, is the last time Dallas won the Super Bowl.
Through six seasons, Lamb already ranks third in Cowboys history in receptions (571), sixth in receiving yards (7,416), and tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns (41). So, yeah, it's safe to say things worked out well.
What's wild, though, is that Lamb is still only considered by most to be the second-best receiver from the 2020 class, as Justin Jefferson, who has the most receiving yards ever by a player through six seasons with 8,480, went five picks after Lamb at No. 22 to the Minnesota Vikings, which makes the Raiders' selection look even worse.
Oh, and let's not forget that the Philadelphia Eagles took Jalen Reagor at No. 21, which was listed as the second-most foolish pick of the last decade.