Even CeeDee Lamb knows Cowboys got a steal in rookie wide receiver

CeeDee Lamb is back practicing just in time before the regular season after signing his blockbuster four-year extension. Dallas Cowboys fans are obviously excited to have Lamb back, but there is a bigger sense of relief than excitement that his contract holdout is finally over.

A silver lining of Lamb's holdout is that it allowed the Cowboys' younger receivers to work with the first-team offense. The chemistry between Dak Prescott and Brandin Cooks has improved leaps and bounds and Jalen Tolbert took the proverbial bull by the horns and ran away with the WR3 job.

Tolbert becoming a weekly threat would take Dallas' offense to another level. However, someone emerging as a viable fourth option would make the offense borderline unstoppable, even with a suspect backfield.

Jalen Brooks could be that guy. The 2023 seventh-round pick had a terrific camp and Prescott spoke highly of him all summer. However, rookie sixth-rounder Ryan Flournoy has picked up steam since the second week of preseason and he's already caught Lamb's eye even though No. 88 just returned to practice.

CeeDee Lamb praising rookie WR Ryan Flournoy will get Cowboys fans excited

"Obviously I hated that I missed a couple of them [film sessions] and wasn't really able to guide them or give them [the team's young receivers] my point of view.," Lamb said... "Obviously, shoutout Flo [Flournoy]. He's been having a great camp as that catch you saw today. He's been balling..."

Lamb also tipped his cap to KaVontae Turpin and Cooks, but it speaks volumes that Flournoy was the first WR he mentioned by name. Then again, Lamb would be hard-pressed to not come away impressed by a rookie who can make the spectacular look ordinary.

Here is the catch that Lamb referenced:

That is a top-drawer snag from the rookie. Cornerback Andrew Booth applied sticky coverage and was right on Flournoy's hip, but it did not matter. The pass had some zip on it, too, and Flournoy plucked it out of the air one-handed with ease.

Flournoy has not taken his foot off the gas after a strong finish to preseason. He caught touchdowns in consecutive games against the Raiders and Chargers. On the first score, Flournoy burned Raiders starting cornerback Jack Jones with a devastating inside-out route. On the second, he showed excellent concentration and footwork on a sliding grab in the back corner of the end zone.

The only Cowboys WR to find the end zone in preseason, Flournoy caught 9 of 12 targets and had a 125.3 passer rating when targeted, per Pro Football Focus.

Flournoy did commit two drops, fumbled out of bounds and was flagged for an illegal shift. It wasn't a perfect preseason, but hiccups are expected out of first-year players. He might need a year before he's ready to contribute on a regular basis, but Lamb has clearly joined Cowboys fans on the Flournoy hype train.

We suggest climbing aboard while you still can.

More Cowboys news and analysis