After the completion of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys took a chance on a diminutive wide receiver out of Southern Methodist University and signed him as an undrafted free agent. Fast forward several years and America’s Team now has one of the best, if not the best, slot receivers in the entire NFL.
Yes, if you haven’t already guessed it, I’m talking about #11 Cole Beasley.
Beasley may be one of the smaller receivers in the NFL at just 5’8″ tall and 180 pounds, but that hasn’t stopped him from being the Cowboys best wide receiver this season. He has by far had his best season in the NFL catching 75 passes for 833 yards and five touchdowns, and that’s not even mentioning what kind of damage he could do in the postseason.
He has been the quarterback’s best friend since entering the league, a fact that rookie QB Dak Prescott learned firsthand when he took over as the starter for the Dallas Cowboys.
To say that the Dallas Cowboys struck gold with Cole Beasley is an understatement, and if I were them I might take a good long hard look at adding another talented SMU WR in this year’s draft.
Courtland Sutton isn’t one of those names that you have probably heard of when listening to someone discuss the best wide receivers in the college ranks, but he should be.
Sutton is a 6’4″, 215 pound third-year sophomore, who received a medical redshirt after suffering a season-ending injury in 2014, but don’t worry too much about that injury.
Sutton is an impressive natural athlete that has a prototypical NFL frame for a wide receiver. He uses that frame to out physical cornerbacks at both the line of scrimmage and at the catching point. He is an explosive athlete that has great hands and leaping ability, which has been on full display on several occasions when making acrobatic catches.
He doesn’t have the blazing speed that everybody seems to want the Cowboys to find in a WR, but he makes up for it with his smooth route running and vice grip like hands.
All of this has made Sutton one of the most productive wide receivers to ever play for the Mustangs and I can almost guarantee he will start climbing up draft boards once he officially announces his intentions of entering this year’s draft class.
Sutton announced earlier this week via Twitter that everyone will know of his intentions by today (Wednesday).
I'll be announcing everything on Wednesday ???????? #StayTuned
— Courtland Sutton (@SuttonCourtland) January 9, 2017
Although he still has two years of college eligibility left, I fully expect him to enter this year’s draft class. I just don’t think he has anything else to prove by returning to SMU, because I believe teams are going to fall in love with him and move him up their draft boards.
As things stand right now, I have Courtland Sutton as a late first, early second round draft pick. That’s right in the wheel house of where the Dallas Cowboys should be drafting.
I know everybody believes that the Dallas Cowboys should go defense and only defense with their first-round draft pick, but this year’s draft class is deep at defensive end and cornerback, the Cowboys two biggest defensive needs.
Adding a WR as talented as Courtland Sutton would give the Cowboys offense two #1 receivers and yet another dangerous weapon for Dak Prescott.
It would likely take the Cowboys first-round draft pick, but I think it would be a pick well invested for the future of not only the offense, but the wide receiver position as well. Especially with Terrance Williams and Brice Butler entering free agency after the completion of this season.
Of course, you can just take my word for it or you can check out his Draft Breakdown profile and watch his game film for yourself.
UPDATE: Courtland Sutton has decided to return for another year at SMU. It was confirmed via SMU’s Twitter page.
He's back! Get ready for more @SuttonCourtland highlights next season! #PonyUpTempo pic.twitter.com/8fXt6Zy0pO
— SMU Football (@SMUFB) January 11, 2017
With Sutton still having two years of college eligibility remaining, the Dallas Cowboys will have to wait until the 2018 or possibly 2019 NFL Draft if they want to make him a member of the organization.
Do you think the Dallas Cowboys should add another SMU WR?
Please feel free to use the comment section below to share your thoughts and opinions on this topic.
Sutton, would be Dak version of Alvin Harper. That’s grwat that he is returning for his jr. season. The more reaps the better.
I was really hoping he would enter the draft this season. I was surprised he decided to return to SMU.