Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb Says He's 'Been Ready' to Take Over as Dallas' No. 1 WR

The Dallas Cowboys traded their top receiver, Amari Cooper, to the Cleveland Browns in the off-season, and one of the other top players on the team is ready to replace him.

Lamb told reporters that he was ready to be the top receiver in Dallas.

I have been prepared. Lamb said that that was in his nature. I'm always ready for my name to be called.

Jerry Jones said that the Cowboys decided to part ways with Cooper because they felt his $20 million salary should be better spent.

Dallas extended the contracts of Gallup, Lawrence and Vander Esch. Washington, Dante Fowler Jr., and Ryan Nall were added via free agency.

The Cowboys have every reason to be confident that Lamb can be their No. 1 receiver after selecting him 17th overall in the 2020 NFL draft.

Lamb caught 74 passes for 935 yards and five touchdown in 16 games in his first season. He caught 78 passes for 1,102 yards and six touchdown in 16 games during the 2021 campaign.

He led the team in receiving yards last season and was second on the team in receiving yards in his first year.

While he will draw more attention in the future, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is confident that Lamb can be the team's top receiver in the future, telling reporters that the opportunity is there for him to succeed in his third year in the NFL.

"This is a great opportunity for him personally. I think just the way we've established the offense, particularly in the passing game, the ability for those guys to play different positions, to create matchups and make it harder on the defense to double you and those type of things -- my point is, playing in the slot a lot last year and now playing the flanker position (where Cooper played).

"And we understand his rise in Year 3 that he's going to get a lot more attention from the defense. But he's doing all of the little things that are needed to get him ready to be the No. 1 guy."

The Cowboys lost a wide receiver in free agency, which will put more pressure on Lamb to succeed.

Gallup is expected to be out for the start of the season as he continues to recover from a tornACL. Washington is wearing a walking boot, but told reporters that it is nothing to worry about.

The Cowboys depth at wide receiver includes Noah Brown, T.J. Vasher, Dennis Houston, and Jaquarii Roberson.

Lamb will get to show off his skills when the Cowboys open the season against the Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium.