ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals select WR CeeDee Lamb in ESPN 2020 re-draft

Feb 2, 2021, 12:54 PM | Updated: 1:14 pm

Hindsight is 20/20, but what if every team had a chance to go back in time and redo last year’s NFL draft?

The 2020 draft class was littered with talent, and plenty of rookies made major impacts for their respective franchises.

Some more than others.

ESPN had their reporters re-draft the first two rounds of the 2020 draft, with every team picking in their original spot and no trades allowed.

Instead of taking Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons with the No. 8 pick, the re-draft has the Cardinals selecting former Oklahoma and current Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

The Cardinals needed another top-tier wide receiver in their offense to make it go at the high-octane speed that Kliff Kingsbury prefers. Lamb would give the Cardinals the ideal complement to DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald, and he’d also allow for an easy transition between WR and QB considering he played with Kyler Murray in college — and in a pandemic-shortened offseason, that would’ve come in handy.

After getting his bearings early on in the year, Simmons saw an expanded role as the season went on. The linebacker recorded 46 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble during his rookie campaign.

But looking back at the year from an offensive standpoint, quarterback Kyler Murray could have used another wideout to stretch the field.

DeAndre Hopkins led the Cardinals with 115 catches, 1,407 yards and six touchdowns. Outside of Hopkins, who earned a spot on the All-Pro second team, the production dropped off significantly with Arizona’s second option, Christian Kirk, finishing with 48 catches, 621 yards and six touchdowns.

Despite playing with five different starting quarterbacks, Lamb ended his rookie season with 74 catches, 935 yards and five touchdowns.

Lamb ended up falling into the middle of the first round, where the Cowboys selected him 17th overall.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

21 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Cardinals select WR CeeDee Lamb in ESPN 2020 re-draft