CeeDee Lamb could be fifth Dallas Cowboy to win NFL Offensive Rookie of Year

The last time the Dallas Cowboys had a player selected as the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, it was quarterback Dak Prescott in 2016. Prescott slid much deeper into that year's draft than expected, picked No. 135 overall following a terrific college career at Mississippi State. The Cowboys have another Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate this year in former Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb, and he also surprisingly slid in the draft. Lamb is +1400 on the moneyline odds at William Hill sportsbook to win OROY. 

Via the CBS Big Board, Lamb was the No. 8 overall player in the 2020 NFL Draft class and top-ranked receiver. Yet, he lasted until the No. 17 overall pick and was the third wideout taken following Alabama's Henry Ruggs to the Raiders at No. 12 and the Tide's Jerry Jeudy at No. 15 to the Broncos.

Receiver was not a need area for the Cowboys with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup in place, but Jerry Jones wasn't about to let Lamb get past his pick. Lamb was a consensus All-American in 2019 for the Sooners in catching 62 passes for 1,324 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led the draft class in yards per target at 15.1 and yards after the catch at 11.0.

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Lamb will not be No. 1 option as long as Cooper is healthy so that could hurt his OROY chances. He still should get a fair amount of targets replacing Randall Cobb in the slot. Cobb signed with the Texans in free agency. SportsLine fantasy experts project Lamb to have 41 catches for 655 yards and five touchdowns.

Lamb will wear the coveted No. 88 with the Cowboys, which was previously worn by star wideouts Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin and Dez Bryant. None of those guys won Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Cowboys to have won it in addition to Prescott are running back Calvin Hill (1969), tailback Tony Dorsett (1977) and a guy named Emmitt Smith (1990).