NFL Draft Rumors: Eagles aggressively pursuing trade up for CeeDee Lamb

The NFL Draft is nearly one week away and the rumor mill is starting to churn. There’s always a lot of misinformation out there around this time of this year, so it’s important to take everything we hear and read with a grain of salt. Still, it can be fun to discuss.

The latest rumor is a juicy one from 97.5 The Fanatic host and Penn Athletics voice Joe Tordy. Apparently the Eagles are smitten with CeeDee Lamb:

Tordy adds that the Carolina Panthers at No. 7 and the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 12 are two potential landing spots to watch when it comes to the Eagles moving up.

I don’t find it hard to believe that Roseman really likes Lamb. I mean, how could you not? Just watch the guy. Dude’s a baller:

Lamb’s simply a big play machine. He logged 21.4 yards per reception and 15 total touchdowns in 2019.

At worst, Lamb is viewed as a top three wide receiver prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. Many may very well view him as the very best of his class. I know I do. BGN’s own Michael Kist also ranks Lamb as his No. 1 WR:

Feeling blue because the Eagles missed out on one of the greatest heists of the century? DeAndre Hopkins’ clone should remedy that. He’ll almost assuredly be gone within the Eagles range, but dream with me for a moment.

CeeDee Lamb’s had a fairly quiet process, but that doesn’t mean teams are sleeping on the best and most well-rounded prospect in the class. As Pro Football Focus points out in their 2020 Draft Guide, Lamb does it all...

“Over the last two seasons, Lamb has averaged 3.42 yards per route run; he has gained 9.2 yards after the catch on average, forcing 38 missed tackles in the process; and he has generated a passer rating of 146.5 on his targets, all while earning a receiving grade of 91.3 ... Lamb is the most advanced wide receiver prospect I’ve seen since we started grading college players six years ago.” - Mike Renner, PFF

In Lamb you’ve got a high-level route runner to all three levels with a sweet release game and an outstanding feel for creating big plays with the ball in his hands. He’s going to be the focal point of your offense and is the best wide receiver prospect to hit the draft since 2015.

The question is ... is Lamb truly worth trading up for? BGN readers have a clear answer on that front:

For as awesome as it would be to pair Lamb with Carson Wentz, though, Roseman isn’t in the best position to trade up. The Eagles are entering the draft with only the 20th most valuable picks capital and a bunch of needs to address beyond the receiver position. Moving up is hardly a no-brainer decision; the downside of consolidating picks must be considered.

I’m not holding my breath when it come to the Eagles making a major move up in this year’s draft. Even if Roseman tries his hardest to move up for Lamb, it’s entirely possibly a team will love the Oklahoma product enough to spurn any offers and take him for themselves.

I also do think the cost will ultimately be too rich and Roseman will end up hoping he gets one of the top four guys — Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Justin Jefferson — at No. 21 or with a smaller move up. A trade down could be preferable if that receiver quartet is all gone by the Eagles’ pick.

We’re just over a week away from seeing how things will play out. In the meantime, it’s fun to dream about Lamb becoming the GOAT in Philly. (I will never log off.)