If you’re a Cowboys fan, you probably remember exactly where you were when the 2020 NFL Draft was happening. It was that weird, "stay-at-home" era. Roger Goodell was literally in his basement. No big stage in Las Vegas. No glitz. Just a bunch of guys on Zoom calls and a lot of tension.
But for Dallas? It turned out to be a masterclass in patience.
When was CeeDee Lamb drafted? It happened on the night of April 23, 2020. Specifically, he was the 17th overall pick in the first round.
Now, if you follow the draft, you know that the 17th pick usually isn’t where you find a true, franchise-altering superstar at wide receiver. Usually, those guys are long gone by pick 10. But 2020 was different. It was a draft loaded with pass-catching talent, and somehow, the board fell perfectly for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office.
The Night the Board Broke Right
Honestly, nobody expected CeeDee Lamb to be there at 17. Not the fans, not the analysts, and definitely not the Cowboys. Most mock drafts had him going to the Las Vegas Raiders at 12 or maybe the Denver Broncos at 15.
Instead, the Raiders took Henry Ruggs III.
Then the Broncos took Jerry Jeudy.
When the Atlanta Falcons went with cornerback A.J. Terrell at 16, there was a collective "Wait, is this happening?" across Dallas. The Cowboys were widely expected to go for defense. They needed a pass rusher or a corner badly. K'Lavon Chaisson was on the board. So was C.J. Henderson (wait, no, he went earlier). But when a guy like Lamb—who many had as the #1 receiver on their entire board—falls into your lap, you don't overthink it. You just take him.
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Basically, Dallas didn't "need" a receiver. They already had Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. But they chose talent over need. That’s how you build a roster that actually wins.
Why CeeDee Lamb Was a "Can't-Miss" Prospect
If you watched him at Oklahoma, you saw a guy who was just... different.
He wasn't the fastest guy on the field—he ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash at the combine—but he played much faster. His body control was insane. You'd see him catch a ball near the sideline, contort his body in mid-air, and somehow get both feet down while holding onto the rock.
- College Stats: 173 receptions, 3,292 yards, and 32 touchdowns.
- The "YAC" King: He averaged about 19 yards per catch over his college career.
- The Hype: He was often compared to DeAndre Hopkins or Odell Beckham Jr. because of those "circus catch" abilities.
He wasn't just a possession guy. He was a threat to score every time he touched the ball. Coming out of Foster High School in Richmond, Texas, he was already a legend in the state. Coming back to play for the Cowboys felt like a homecoming that was written in the stars.
The Jersey Number Drama
You can't talk about when CeeDee Lamb was drafted without talking about the number 88.
Initially, CeeDee wanted to wear number 10. He liked it. It was his vibe. But Jerry Jones had other plans. In the Cowboys organization, the number 88 is sacred. It’s the "Triple 8s." Drew Pearson. Michael Irvin. Dez Bryant.
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Jerry actually wanted CeeDee to wear it to honor his late friend, Jerry Lamb (no relation to CeeDee), who had passed away earlier that year. Jerry Lamb was a teammate of Jones at Arkansas. So, it wasn't just about the Cowboys legacy; it was personal for the owner.
CeeDee took the number. He didn't just take it; he earned it. By the time his third season rolled around, nobody was questioning if he belonged in that "88 Club." He was the engine of the offense.
Looking Back: Was He the Best WR in the 2020 Class?
This is where it gets spicy. The 2020 draft was legendary for wideouts.
Look at the names:
- Henry Ruggs III (Pick 12)
- Jerry Jeudy (Pick 15)
- CeeDee Lamb (Pick 17)
- Jalen Reagor (Pick 21)
- Justin Jefferson (Pick 22)
- Brandon Aiyuk (Pick 25)
In hindsight, the Philadelphia Eagles taking Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson is one of the biggest draft "oops" moments in history. But the debate between Lamb and Jefferson is still a hot topic at sports bars everywhere. Jefferson put up historic numbers early, but CeeDee has been the model of consistency and has become a First-Team All-Pro.
Honestly? Dallas got a steal. If you re-did that draft today, CeeDee Lamb is probably a top-5 pick. Easily.
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What This Means for Your Roster
If you’re looking at CeeDee Lamb through the lens of history, his draft slot tells us that sometimes the "best player available" strategy is the only one that matters. Dallas didn't reach for a defensive tackle because they were "supposed" to. They took the superstar.
For fans or collectors looking for his rookie cards or memorabilia, remember that 2020 is the year to look for. That's the year he signed his 4-year, $14.01 million rookie contract, which included a $7.7 million signing bonus. It was a bargain then, and it looks like a total heist now given the massive extension he eventually earned.
If you’re tracking his career path, the next step is simple: check his year-over-year target share. Since being drafted, his targets have climbed nearly every single season. He transitioned from a "luxury" third option behind Amari Cooper to the undisputed "Alpha" of the Dallas Cowboys.
To truly understand his value, you have to look at the 2023 season, where he led the entire NFL in receptions. That's a long way from being the third receiver taken in his own draft class.
Next Steps for Fans: If you want to dive deeper into the 2020 draft class, look up the "2020 NFL Draft Re-Draft" articles from 2025 and 2026. Most analysts now place Lamb as a top-three player in that entire class, regardless of position. You should also watch his rookie highlights against the Falcons—it was the first real sign that he was going to be a problem for NFL secondaries for a long time.