i think everything was already in effect before we had a chance to draft CeeDee Lamb, imo.
- that 2 year escape option clause in Cooper's new record breaking contract was a clear signal that
the team had to have some reservations to throw in that escape clause. They wanted to force themselves to believe that Coop could either rejuvenate himself to be an Alpha Dog - or after that 2 year time, they were going to be forced to go elsewhere for a new No.1 feature lead WR.
- But during FA period and before the NFL draft, they needed the best insurance available that continues work for Dak. And they did not want to let Cooper walk and be " forced " to have to pick a lead WR - just for the sake of picking one.
- Forcing a lead WR simply because they needed a lead WR that bad.
Reaching for a Calvin Ridley type. Resorting to picking a WR that high, and going against the value of their board. So they caved in and gave Cooper what he wanted contract wise- while also protecting themselves in the near future, just in case.
- Little did they ..or anyone could phantom the 6th best overall player on their board, would still be sliding and sliding, right into their hands at 17th overall ,.. someone who they had to think with that rave high score of a prospect - someone they had to think was the coveted elite level WR prospect they coveted and what they had hope Cooper would be via the trade for him.
- That slide totally changed the dynamics of the franchise. In terms of direction with the WRs, roles, skill set,
the built around focus of the pass game, a swagger and confidence level that they are desperately seeking.
Sure we still needed a slot guy, but they did not draft Lamb to be exclsuively a slot guy- that is just coming as a luxury. Lamb immediately given No.88 by now mysteriously "silent" Jerry himself will be an eventual
- As for Cooper, He is going to be what Torry Holt was to Issac Bruce...and Reggie Wayne was to Marvin Harrison. because unless he is another alpha dog opposite Lamb, he's not gonna see the rest of that massive contract after the next 2 years.
- As a pure prospect, and reportedly there were just 2 WRs in a very rich WR class that Cowboys coveted. - Lamb and Bama's Jerry Jeud.
- Lamb is a freakish generation WR he is not a Randy Moss or Desean Jackson like 4.3 burner - but he has displayed vertical deep threat ability in his Sooner career. he has adequate size weight but he is not overwhelming in that regards. but he plays tall, reaches for sideline, fade routes and isn't afraid to venture over the middle.
- what makes him unique is his run skills.Not only is he an instinctive , natural play maker who makes big plays look effortless and easy, but he is very slippery and elusive in the open field and despite a slim frame, tacklers have a difficult time corralling him He has a knack for sliding off tacklers.
He is also a plus punt returner.
- The one thing we have to see proven is his level of competing.It's a big difference between
Sooner-land vs NFL.
Even Cooper himself was considered an elite blue chip WR too coming out of Bama.
And how he handles NFL level press coverage something he didn't have to be concerned about in Sooners scheme that freed him off the line quite often.
