2018 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos 7-round mock draft in September
By Bruce Matson
Round 1, Pick 25: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
I already went against the grain with this pick. The Broncos are set at receiver and they drafted Carlos Henderson in the third round of last year’s draft. So, why should they spend a first round pick on Courtland Sutton? I hate to make this an ESPN 30 for 30 piece, but what if I told you Sutton was the best wide receiver in next year’s draft and will be valued as a top-10 pick come next spring?
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Last year, he caught 76 passes for 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s listed at 6-4 and weighs in at 215 pounds, which is the prototypical size for a starting wide receiver at the NFL level. Not only does he have the size, but he also has the speed and athleticism to create separation from defenders.
At this stage in the draft, if a player of this caliber falls to your draft slot, you immediately sprint to the podium and make your selection. It doesn’t matter if the player fits a team need, you make room for him and enjoy having the excess talent.
How does he fit? Well, Emmanuel Sanders will be 31 years old and Demaryius Thomas will be 30 years old going into next season. Both players are well above the average age for wide receivers in the NFL. Sutton provides excess talent and youth at the position. He also gives the Broncos an insurance policy just in case one of the team’s top receivers starts to show signs of slowing down. Sutton has the talent to be the team’s WR1 and be the eventual replacement for Thomas if the Broncos would ever want to move on from him.
It sounds weird to talk about replacing Sanders and Thomas right now, but in a couple years Sutton will be fully developed and ready to go while the team’s current star wide outs are starting to slow down due to age and wear and tear.