Before the Pro Bowls and All-Pro honors, before the 1,700-yard season and contract year speculation, CeeDee Lamb was a freshman at Oklahoma studying the subtleties of route-running from Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. They were linked by ambition and a shared understanding of what it meant to carry a passing game. Years later, that connection still holds.
Inside the Cowboys’ building, Lamb’s growth has been sharpened by his daily matchups with Trevon Diggs. They were drafted together in 2020, and in a lot of ways, they’ve developed in lockstep, practicing against each other almost every day, testing each other with different releases and coverages. Those reps aren’t for show. Ask anyone in that building, and they’ll tell you: that’s where Lamb fine-tunes the stuff most fans don’t see.
Then there are the younger guys, like Rashee Rice in Kansas City, who called Lamb “Big Bruh” in a birthday post. That might seem casual, but for receivers, that’s meaningful. Brown added his own shoutout, saying, “Happy Birthday To My Right Hand, keep shining brudda”. At the same time, others like Dak Prescott, DeAndre Hopkins, and Stefon Diggs shared their love on Lamb’s Instagram post on his birthday. These aren’t empty gestures either. Players like Rice and Brown don’t hand out praises easily. Their words reflect how far Lamb has come since entering the league in 2020 as a first-round pick for Dallas.
LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 24: Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb 88 celebrates while walking off the field after the Dallas Cowboys versus Washington Commanders National Football League game at Northwest Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Landover, MD. Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA NOV 24 Cowboys at Commanders EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon9662411240564
The Dallas Cowboys have long relied on Lamb as their offensive centerpiece. In 2023, he led the league with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 TDs. He also earned the first-team All-Pro Honors with this. He had a slightly quieter 2024 season due to Dak Prescott’s mid-season injury. But Lamb still posted 101 catches for 1,194 yards and 6 TDs. Consistency, thy name is Lamb! Prescott elaborates during a past interview: “from the day he showed up, I think he has emerged as maybe the best receiver in the league at this point.” This not only highlights Prescott’s respect for Lamb, but is also a testament to his skills.
For Cowboys fans, this moment feels like validation. After years of searching for a true offensive superstar to pair with Prescott, Dallas has found their cornerstone in Lamb. His ability to deliver even under challenges, like Prescott’s absence in 2024, has cemented his role as an elite receiver in the NFL. But he’s nowhere near done. While the birthday buzz was meaningful, what truly stole the spotlight was Lamb’s bold declaration about his plans for 2025. His words aren’t just confident – they’re a warning to every defense in the league.
CeeDee Lamb – the incoming 2025 storm
In his birthday Instagram post, CeeDee Lamb made a bold proclamation: “Overall, I’m about to finally kick into who i think i am.” With these words, Lamb has set the tone for what could be a career-defining season. This isn’t just talk, it’s backed by actions. Reports from training camp suggest that Lamb has been laser-focused on refining every aspect of his game. From perfecting his routes to improving his physicality against defenders, he’s leaving no stone unturned.
Dak Prescott is all for Lamb’s declaration, with a comment under his post that says, “Kick then!” With Ezekiel Elliott gone and Tony Pollard stepping into a larger role, Dallas needs its passing game to fire on all cylinders. For Lamb, this isn’t just about individual accolades – he’s taking responsibility for Dallas’ success. What sets Lamb apart is his situation. With Prescott healthy again and offensive schemes designed around him, all signs point to Lamb being at the center of Dallas’ attack in 2025. The Cowboys have revamped their approach to ensure that defenses can’t key in on him like they did last year. Lamb is ready. With his declaration, it’s now clearer than ever.
Lamb isn’t the first player to make bold statements before a breakout season. But he might just be one of the most prepared. Cooper Kupp made similar waves ahead of his historic 2021 season when he led the league in receptions, receiving yards and TDs. Justin Jefferson has also followed suit with back-to-back elite seasons that cemented him as one of football’s top wideouts.
CeeDee Lamb isn’t just riding high off birthday wishes. He’s using them as fuel for what could be his best year yet. The admiration from players like Rashee and Brown show us how far he’s come. But it’s going to be his own drive that will define how far he will go next. As Dallas preps for 2025, CeeDee isn’t playing around anymore. He’s here to dominate. And if opposing defenses aren’t ready for him, they’re about to find out why he’s putting every team on notice.
The post Dak Prescott, DeAndre Hopkins & Stefon Diggs Unite for CeeDee Lamb as Cowboys WR Puts 31 NFL Franchises on Notice appeared first on EssentiallySports.
