I will be the first to say that I was a bit shocked when the Broncos drafted Courtland Sutton in the 2nd round. Shocked that Denver took a WR that high, and also shocked that Sutton was still on the board at the time. As I mentioned in the Royce Freeman post some players have that "it" factor, and I think Denver got another one with Courtland Sutton. He probably has the best catching ability of any receiver or tight end that was in the draft, and his ability to make plays on the ball when it is in the air is second to just about none. This was a pick of opportunity for the Denver Broncos as I feel like they didn't think Sutton would be there when they picked. Demaryius Thomas is still the Broncos top receiver, and one of the top 10 to 15 receivers in the NFL when he is healthy, but Courtland Sutton will be able to step right in as Denver's top target in a few years when Thomas retires.
Again, you have to ask yourself why did he fall to the second round? If he is so good why was he the third receiver selected? Wide receiver is a weird position where so many things come into play that it is hard to really say why any player is taken ahead of another. There could be a variety of reasons, but if I had to pick what I think are the top reasons, I would say the first reason would be his 40 time, he clocked in 4.5 seconds. Like with Royce Freeman, a 4.5 40 isn't going to make you look special in comparison to other receivers. Not having elite speed could be a reason he fell, and another could be that he came from a university not known for being a football power house at Southern Methodist University. Simply put, the competition he faced wasn't as good as the competition a receiver from the SEC, or Pac 12 would face. I am sure those things played into him falling to the second round, but either way in my eyes the Broncos got a player who can make a difference for years to come.
How does Courtland Sutton fit into the Broncos offense this season? First and foremost he will be Demaryius Thomas's back up. Should anything happen to DT, Sutton will step in at his spot, and take over being the big target for Case Keenum. I personally have a different hope for how he is used this season. My hope is that he impresses enough in OTA's and training camp that he can actually play on the other side of Demaryius Thomas. This would mean that Emmanuel Sanders moves into the slot, which I think is the best possible option for the Denver offense. Sanders has the elite route running ability, and elite speed to be a match-up problem for every NFL team. Emmanuel Sanders in the slot, Demaryius Thomas on one side, and Courtland Sutton on the other could be one of the more dynamic, and special receiving corps in the NFL next season. Having two receivers with the size of Sutton and Thomas on the outside, and the playmaking ability of Sanders on the inside would bring a smile to every Broncos fans face. Most teams end up trying to double team Demaryius Thomas, but if Courtland Sutton can make the transition to the NFL it will make it hard to do that. This means DT will have more single man coverage, and Emmanuel Sanders will be able to use his speed and route running ability from the slot where he has a huge advantage over just about any corner in the NFL. As it stands, Emmanuel Sanders plays on the opposite side of Demaryius Thomas, and the slot receiver is open for competition, but hopefully Sutton will be able earn that spot on the outside, and move Sanders inside. Should Courtland Sutton be able to succeed in doing that the Broncos offense really has a chance to be a tough team to game plan for this year.
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