A.J. Brown and CeeDee Lamb have been two of the top wide receivers in the league in recent years. The competitiveness reached new heights this week with a social media back-and-forth between the two. The heated debate escalated when Brown responded to a tweet from Pro Football Focus (PFF) asking viewers to choose between him and Lamb.
On the latest episode of ‘Speak for Yourself’, former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho brought up the Twitter showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys wide receivers. While Brown took to Twitter to declare himself the better outside receiver, Lamb’s versatility made the claim inaccurate. So what went down and who is the better receiver according to the stat sheets?
Experts give their two cents about the AJ Brown vs CeeDee Lamb debate
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AJ Brown has beefed with pass-catchers before. This time it was fourth-year Cowboy CeeDee Lamb. “Respectfully stop comparing me to CeeDee,” AJ Brown said in a now-deleted tweet. “He plays slot and I play outside and inside. Compare him to Cooper Kupp or guys like that. It’s not the same.” In response, CeeDee Lamb stated, “I can play both. But facts. Y’all can keep the comparison.”
Emmanuel Acho discussed the heated to-and-fro, describing this exchange as the most “cordial shade” he had ever seen. He agreed with Brown’s point and highlighted that the cornerback position in a nickel defense, responsible for guarding slot wide receivers, is one of the toughest positions in football. Especially given the struggle to cover slot receivers on crossing routes.
However, Fox Sports Cowboys Insider Dave Helman thought that there were a few inaccuracies with Brown’s tweet.
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“Lamb played 500 snaps outside last year. Regardless of whether you think he’s better than you at it, it’s simply not true to say that he’s a slot and I’m not,” Helman said. “CeeDee Lamb moved everywhere, probably because he was the only useful receiver on the Cowboys team.” Surely, Michael Gallup and the rest of the Cowboys receivers will not appreciate some of the things Helman said.
Helman also assumed that Brown deleted his tweet due to this inaccuracy. However, the journalist ultimately expressed his belief that Brown was the superior outside receiver.
What does the stat sheet say in this wideout comparison?
AJ Brown later clarified that his comment was not a dig at Lamb and that he had no interest in the infamous Cowboys-Eagles rivalry.
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CeeDee Lamb had 107 catches for 1,359 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2022 after a 1102 yards season in 2021. Brown recorded 88 catches for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns, ranking 13th in the NFL last season. This was AJ Brown’s third 1000-plus receiving yards season in the last 4 years, including the three with the Tennessee Titans.
The numbers and Lamb’s positional data support PFF’s comparison question. PFF’s data showed Lamb’s slot and outside snaps, with a decrease in slot snaps and an increase in outside snaps, compared to his rookie year. This explains why Brown eventually removed his tweet. The Cowboys have utilized Lamb in different positions, including as a runner from the backfield, over the past two seasons.
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Will AJ Brown get another shot at the Lombardi this year or will CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott finally bring the title to Arlington?
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