Carolina Panthers Potential Draft Prospect: CeeDee Lamb
By Daran Faust
It’s time to take a look at a potential draft prospect for the Carolina Panthers.
The Carolina Panthers passing offense ended the season ranked a pedestrian 19th overall in the NFL. Most of the offense’s struggle during the 2019 season can be attributed to the lackluster play from the QB position. Some can be attributed toward the play calling. One of the more underlined needs for the Carolina Panthers this upcoming season is at the WR position.
Outside of D.J Moore who established himself as the Panthers #1 WR no other receiver on the offense even sniffed 1,000 yards receiving. Curtis Samuel has shown he has upside and can be a real contributor, but I don’t think Samuel is a long-term fit in the Panthers #2 WR role. I hear the argument against this pick. The Panthers have invested a lot of capital at the WR position over the years and this would a tough ask but CeeDee Lamb is different.
The Carolina Panthers have a lot of holes in other positions such as DT and LB but the talent of CeeDee Lamb might be to good to pass up. The impact of having a potentially dynamic WR Core could prove to be more vital to the overall success of the Panthers during the upcoming 2020 season.
Scouting Report
CeeDee Lamb stands at 6-foot-2, 189 pounds. I have Lamb ranked as the #1 WR in what could end up being a historically talented WR draft class. Lamb was a game changer at Oklahoma University racking up 173 receptions 3292 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns. The Oklahoma WR was the driving force for the Oklahoma offense amassing a team lead in targets, receptions, and receiving yards.
His ability to stretch the field while not having necessarily elite NFL speed shows the ability that Lamb has to separate. CeeDee Lamb makes playing the QB position easier being able to contort and shift his frame to track passes is something Carolina hasn’t had in their WR room since Steve Smith. CeeDee Lamb can be the WR that Carolina wanted previous WRs such as Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess to be.
CeeDee Lamb is as polished of a prospect as a WR can be entering the draft. The most important trait that I look at for WRs is their catch radius taking a look into Lamb’s film it is clear this is the signature of Lamb’s game. Having the ability to catch the ball from different angles, low, high, it does not matter as long as the ball is in the same area code CeeDee Lamb will track and locate. The only negative that can stand for improvement is Lamb’s route running something that can be worked through in training camp.
Fit
CeeDee Lamb could start right away. This would push Curtis Samuel to play more of the slot role, which I think would benefit his productivity and allow more favorable matchups. CeeDee Lamb would also relieve pressure for presumably QB Cam Newton during the 2020 season to make precise throws.
QB Cam Newton in the past has had issues with his accuracy and coming off a lisfrac foot injury probably will not help. A player like Lamb and his ability to track the ball while in the air makes is set of skills valuable to a gunslinger like Cam Newton who throws with more power than touch.
REASON AGAINST
I still think D. J. Moore is the alpha of the Carolina Panthers WR room especially when you look at the QB situation that he dealt with this season. When looking at the overwhelming capital the Carolina Panthers have put towards the WR position and looking at the depth of this class this is a tough ask especially for a team in a transitioning period. The Panthers also have pressing holes at other positions, most notably LB, with the shocking retirement of Luke Kuechly. The also opens the question is the talent worth the selection this will be the highest draft pick the Carolina Panthers have had since Cam Newton in 2011. There are no do-overs when you select a player that high you have to be all in on that this player will make a significant impact.