Jerry Jones: CeeDee Lamb is No. 1 wide receiver, upgrade over Amari Cooper

The Dallas Cowboys shook up their wide receiver room this offseason by trading Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns. This week, owner Jerry Jones made some interesting comments bout the move and the franchise’s future at the position.

Jones told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the Cowboys are actually in a better spot with CeeDee Lamb as their No. 1 receiver. Lamb, the former Oklahoma star, was Dallas’ leading receiver last year with 1,102 yards. Cooper, who starred at Alabama, was No. 2 with 865 receiving yards.

“Jones told the Star-Telegram that CeeDee Lamb will be an upgrade over Cooper as a true No. 1 receiver in the Cowboys offense,” Hill wrote. “Jones said he was trying to slight Cooper, whom the team traded in March in part because his production didn’t match his $20 million practice tag.

“But Jones acknowledged Cooper had his issues and that Lamb has the makings of more a complete No. 1 receiver in ‘production, in the huddle and off the field.’ He said he is excited to see what Lamb does in 2022.”

In Cleveland, Cooper is planning to link up with new Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and restructured his contract after the deal went through. The Cowboys drafted wide receiver Jalen Tolbert in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft this year to add to the receiver room. But based on Jones’ comments, Lamb is all but certain to be the No. 1 option for Dak Prescott for the 2022 season.

Dallas is coming off a 12-5 campaign last year and an NFC East title. The season ended early in the playoffs, though at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Round. San Francisco ended up making it to the NFC Championship, where it lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.