Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb vs. Davante Adams: McCarthy Compares 'Climb' to Elite
Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb has had a blazing start to his career since being drafted in 2020.
In just three years, the Oklahoma product has developed into one of the top receivers in the league. Lamb put together the best season of his young career in 2022, catching 107 passes for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns. The best part for Dallas is that at just 24 years old, Lamb still has potential to be even better in the coming years.
No one sees that potential more so than Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy. On Tuesday, McCarthy boldly compared Lamb to some of the best receivers he coached throughout his time with the Green Bay Packers, including three-time All-Pro Davante Adams, now with the Las Vegas Raiders.
"I think CeeDee may have had a couple of balls early in the year [2022] that may have gotten away from him, but other than that I never really had any doubts about him," McCarthy said. "I've seen them all go through it. I've seen Jordy [Nelson], Greg Jennings, and Davante Adams. It's a natural progression. It's usually that second year where you go, 'Oh OK, he has a chance to really be something really special.'
"I think his climb has been really consistent."
It's easy to forget now, but Adams actually had a slow start to his career. He had less than 1,000 yards and just four touchdowns across his first two NFL seasons, and it took him four years to make his first Pro Bowl appearance. From that perspective, Lamb is already well ahead of Adams' pace.
Of course, McCarthy saw the talent in Lamb right away, enough to make the receiver the first player he drafted as Cowboys coach.
"You always knew CeeDee had it, you could see that right away when he came here as a rookie [as the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft]," McCarthy said. "You start outside [to see] what's his menu outside, and then you move him inside to see what's his menu inside. My point is, as we move him around, we have to continue to create more opportunities for him."
This season, expectations for Lamb have only grown higher. With a new No. 2 receiver alongside him in Brandin Cooks, the Cowboys will look for Lamb to build on his career season.
You can find Jonathan Alfano on Twitter @JonAlfano_News
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