Dallas Cowboys: Ryan Switzer impresses at rookie minicamp
Following the conclusion of Dallas Cowboys’ rookie minicamp, one former NFL scout came away impressed by fourth round selection wide receiver Ryan Switzer.
The Dallas Cowboys selected a very defensive heavy draft class in 2017. With a total offense ranked fifth in the NFL last season and a defense that ranked 14th, making seven of their nine total draft picks defensive players made sense.
In fact, the Cowboys used their first three draft selections for the defensive side of the ball. Those players included Michigan defensive end Taco Charlton in the first round, Colorado defensive back Chidobe Awuzie in the second, and Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis in the third.
But it was the Cowboys fourth round selection of North Carolina wide receiver Ryan Switzer that seems to be receiving the most praise following the team’s rookie minicamp over the weekend.
"“Though most of these drills are against air, it is clear that Ryan Switzer has a feel for how to execute a route,” wrote Bryan Broaddus, football analyst for DallasCowboys.com. “His quickness off the snap once he gets moving is impressive. His burst is noticeable. I also came away impressed with how easily he catches the ball. For a guy that doesn’t have much length, his ability to adjust back for the ball made me think of a much taller player.”"
Broaddus, a former NFL scout and the Cowboys assistant director of pro personnel from 1999-2004, also called Switzer’s ability the reach back and catch the ball at full speed a very rare trait. And he was interested to see the 5-foot-8, 181 pound receiver play both inside, in the slot, and outside.
Following Switzer’s selection by the Cowboys in the fourth round of last month’s draft, immediate similarities to current Dallas slot receiver Cole Beasley were made. Although the North Carolina prospect has a similar look and frame as Beasley, he’s likely more explosive and should immediately take over punt return duties in Dallas.
Last season, Beasley recorded a career-high 75 receptions for 833 yards and five touchdowns. The fifth-year veteran led the team in catches in 2016. Mind you, that was with a rookie quarterback under center in Dak Prescott, who made Beasley his favorite target early in the season.
Similarly, Switzer was quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s favorite target during his lone season as starter for North Carolina last year. The diminutive wide out recorded a whopping 96 receptions for 1,112 yards and six scores in just 13 games his senior season. Switzer’s abilities as a receiver likely was a big reason Trubisky was selected number two overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
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Switzer’s presence in Dallas should give Prescott another reliable route runner at receiver to pair with Beasley who can catch passes underneath as well as play outside when needed. And when it’s all said and done, Ryan could be viewed as the real hidden gem of this Cowboys draft class.