Jerry Jones Drafted CeeDee Lamb Thanks to Some Tough Love From His Grandson
When CeeDee Lamb remained on the board by the time the Cowboys were on the clock with the No. 17 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the city of Dallas simultaneously erupted with excitement.
How did the best wide receiver prospect in the draft fall this far? Was there a mistake? Lamb was the obvious pick, right?
Wrong. Cowboys GM Jerry Jones was enamored with another top prospect who was also available at 17. He might’ve gone that route, too, until his grandson convinced him to draft Lamb by using some tough love.
Jerry Jones wanted LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson in the first round of the draft
Before the 2019 NFL draft, the Cowboys were in desperate need of defensive lineman who could bolster the pass rush. Dallas was looking at LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson as a perfect fit with the No. 17 pick.
By the time the Cowboys were on the clock in round one, Chaisson was still waiting to hear his name called. Jones had Chaisson circled for weeks, and he was right there for the taking.
Somewhere along the way, though, Jones changed his mind.
The Cowboys ended up drafting CeeDee Lamb over K’Lavon Chaisson
Chaisson might’ve been Jones’ No. 1 target heading into the night, but Lamb falling to 17 created a tough decision for the GM. Lamb was projected to possibly go inside the top 10 in the first round, but there he was still available at 17.
In the battle of need vs. best player available, Jones went with the latter. With the pick, the Cowboys immediately became one of, if not the best, passing attack in all of football.
Combining Lamb with Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and Dak Prescott was a genius move by the Cowboys GM, but some still wondered why he didn’t address the team’s biggest need by taking Chaisson.
Well, Cowboys fans might have Jones’ grandson to thank.
Jerry Jones drafted CeeDee Lamb after his grandson punched him
Jones won the approval of Cowboys fans across the globe by selecting Lamb in the first round, but the real mastermind behind the pick might’ve been his grandson, Shy.
During “Cowboys Night” on Sunday, Jones spoke about how he decided on Lamb at 17.
We were sitting there in that draft and boy there’s our end, our defensive end, fell to us from LSU. And we were so giddy, but there sat CeeDee Lamb. And I’ll never forget, my grandson Shy reached over and punched me. I was sitting on the couch and he said, ‘Production, Papa. Production. Look at his production! Look at his production!’
Jerry Jones
It seems a little tough love was all Jones needed to pull the trigger on his new star WR. It didn’t hurt that his last name is Lamb, which reminded Jones of his old teammate from Arkansas.
We had it all for the right reasons. He’s just a unique, unique football player. Unique talent. And boy it all fell together and, it just really was almost like an omen. [Jerry Lamb] was certainly one of the best friends I’ve ever had. He lived vicariously every breath that I’ve got to be involved as a Cowboy. And Jerry Lamb was an outstanding, great player and great leader.
Jerry Jones
Maybe Shy has a future in an NFL front office just like his grandpa.
