Courtland Sutton Drafted by Broncos, Joins SMU Alum Emmanuel Sanders

In hopes of bolstering their passing game, the Denver Broncos selected former SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton No. 40 overall in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft on Friday.  

Twitter had some things to say about Sutton becoming the newest member of the Broncos after Bradley Chubb was selected fifth overall in the first round on Thursday:

Sutton arrived at SMU as a 3-star safety prospect, according to 247Sports, but he changed to wide receiver after his freshman season.

That career-altering move paid dividends for both Sutton and the Mustangs almost immediately. In 12 games as a sophomore, Sutton started to flash his tantalizing potential. He finished the year with 49 receptions for 862 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Come 2016, Sutton's stock started to surge in a big way because of his career-high 76 receptions for 1,246 yards.

That trend held steady in 2017, when the 6'3", 218-pound vertical threat lit it up to the tune of 68 catches for 1,085 yards and 12 scores. He displayed a consistent ability to win in contested one-on-one situations. 

Pro Football Focus shined a light on his downfield efficiency: 

"He's got such a big body, and knows how to use it, that he's going to be a problem in the red zone, on the back-shoulder throws and obviously on jump balls," an AFC scout told NFL Media's Chase Goodbread. 

And while Sutton isn't an elite burner—he ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the combine—he proved capable of making defenders miss in the open field when he had space to operate in after the catch. 

In that regard, Bleacher Report's Marcus Mosher compared him to six-time Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall: 

Given the Marshall comparison, it's fitting Sutton joins the Broncos. He will help bolster a receiving corps that finished 20th in the NFL with 332 combined receptions. 

The Broncos also needed to get younger at wide receiver. Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas are both over the age of 30. 

Sutton doesn't have the kind of speed that will take the top off of a defense, but his size will allow him to outmuscle cornerbacks and win jump balls in the red zone for new quarterback Case Keenum.