Over the past three seasons, Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb has emerged as one of the top receivers in the NFL.
Able to line up anywhere across the formation, Lamb can do deep and win, and alternatively, catch short passes and shuffle downfield for big yards. In short, he can do it all.
Last season, while playing with a dinged shoulder, he still caught over 100 passes and surpassed 1,000 yards as the only weapon for Dak Prescott and then Cooper Rush.
But this year? George Pickens comes to town to take the spotlight off Lamb. And for NFL.com's Jeffri Chadiha, in his bold predictions for 2025, that means CeeDee has a real chance at making history by surpassing Michael Thomas' 149 receptions in a single season.
"The Cowboys wide receiver will have an easier life with the return of quarterback Dak Prescott from injury and the arrival of wide receiver George Pickens via trade," Chadiha writes. "Lamb already was one of the best receivers in the game, but those two factors will make him one of the most historic. Lamb has put together three straight 100-catch seasons despite being the focus of defenses tasked with stopping Dallas' passing attack every year. With all the freedom coming his way this fall, CeeDee's going to go off."
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) reacts before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) reacts before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium.
Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
To break that record, Lamb, if he were to get to 150, would need eight receptions a game. That happened just five times last season. But with Pickens on the other side, Lamb won't be double-teamed and see coverage shifted his way, and then 88 can feast.
Is that record a realistic chance of being taken by CeeDee? While it's a challenging task, if there's a player who can do it, it's Lamb, and he came close in 2023 with his 135 receptions.
Pickens will see Lamb get favorable looks, but he will also take targets from CeeDee too. So that is another thing to consider here.
But a fully healthy Dak Prescott gives Lamb the best chance at making history, and we wouldn't bet against 88 taking his game to another level in 2025.