'Untapped!' How Cowboys Trade for Courtland Sutton Would Show Off Texas Talent
FRISCO - Those who have followed the career of Courtland Sutton are aware that at various times in his career, it's taken far too long for some to realize just how talented he is.
Example: He was recruited to SMU out of Brenham, Texas as a two-way player, but because he was 6-4 and 200 pounds, the receivers coach at the time - who favored smallish wideouts like he once was - told head coach June Jones he had no use for him.
So for a year, the Mustangs wasted his talent by playing him at safety. ... where he was so dominant that Jones eventually realized the error of his staff's ways and made the switch, leading to Sutton becoming a college superstar pass-catcher and second-round pick of the Denver Broncos.
Now come rumors out of Denver that the rebuilding Broncos might be willing to listen to trade offers as Sutton enters the final year of his existing deal with the Broncos.
And Dallas - which has flirted with the idea of trading for Broncos receivers before - has every reason to be interested in order to un-tap all of that talent.
In six seasons in Denver, Sutton has totaled close to 300 career catches, over 4,000 yards receiving, and 24 touchdowns. He can get deep, he can make acrobatic plays and as anybody associated with that SMU program at the time will testify, he's a quality guy.
Should the Cowboys bring him home?
Sutton would be a second option as a receiver here, of course, with CeeDee Lamb at the top of the depth chart. And the lines of communication are open between the clubs as Dallas and Denver on more than one occasion have discussed a trade for former Broncos first-round pick Jerry Jeudy.
But here? Jeudy is now reportedly being dealt to the Browns. And … Speculation is that the cost for Sutton would be lower, with some wondering if a third and sixth-round pick would be enough.
The bigger challenge is how to pay Sutton, or any other standout acquisition, as a contract extension would be a likely part of the trade transaction. But this much is certain: The Cowboys have explored these waters before. And they know Sutton's qualities - as a player and person - well. And as so often been the case with him, there is talent waiting to be untapped by the right team.
