CeeDee Lamb’s Most Exciting Matchups: Which Games Will Define His Season?
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is entering his sixth season after being drafted in 2020, and with each passing year, his impact on the Cowboys' roster continues to grow. After being named a First-Team All-Pro in 2023, Lamb arguably had his best season last year—not just in terms of statistics, but also as a leader and professional. He faced challenges, including quarterback struggles and a persistent shoulder injury, which would cause him to miss the last two games of the season. This season, Lamb gets a full training camp with Dak Prescott, which is needed, as it caused some issues last year, as both he and Prescott were going through contract negotiations. Lamb, with a full training camp and being fully healthy, will be ready to play some of the best corners in the NFL this upcoming season, so who are the standout matchups for him?
1. Patrick Surtain
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is a no-brainer to be number one on this list. One of the few true lockdown corners has been elite since entering the league back in 2021. Patrick Surtain will surely shadow Lamb when they face off in Denver during their week eight duel, and it will be one to watch. The last time these two faced off, the Broncos got the win with Lamb only having two catches for 23 yards back in 2021.
2. Sauce Gardner
This New York Jet has been considered a top corner since his arrival in the NFL in 2022. The interception numbers might not be high, but for good reasons, quarterbacks prefer not to test their side of the field. While Sauce Gardner prefers to stay on one side of the field, Lambs won’t face off all throughout the game, but when they line up against one another, it will be a must-watch. The last time Lamb played the Jets, he had 11 receptions for 143 yards.
3. Jaylon Johnson
Jaylon Johnson has been an underappreciated corner since being drafted by the Bears in 2020. What makes this matchup against Lamb so exciting is the offseason back-and-forth these two have been involved in. With Lamb's words being taken into a different context when he was on a podcast talking about Chicago, Johnson found it disrespectful. These two will square off in Week Three at Chicago, and the atmosphere of the Chicago crowd will be going against Lamb all game. The last time Lamb played against Chicago in 2022, he had five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.
These are my personal top three matchups for Lamb heading into this season, but many more corners will be ones to watch against Lamb. Both Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell of the Eagles will be excited to play against Lamb after this offseason's small feud. Jaire Alexander is another player who is always ready to play against the league's best. Lastly, the Chiefs' Trent McDuffie has continued to show he’s one of the best in the NFL and would love to have the chance to slow down Lamb on Thanksgiving in front of the whole country.
