Courtland Sutton can be a contributor from day one

The Denver Broncos need instant impact from their rookie class in 2018, and their second-round pick Courtland Sutton can make an impact day one…

The Denver Broncos need to get instant impact out of their 2018 NFL Draft class, and a surprise pick who can help with that is second-rounder Courtland Sutton, a wide receiver from SMU.

Sutton brings big-play ability and high character into the fold for the Broncos. Over the past three seasons as a starter for SMU, he averaged over 16 yards per reception.

This guy understands how to use his 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame to make plays.

Sutton, a team captain at SMU, was one of the most efficient deep ball receivers in college football this past season, catching 12 of 38 targets (4th best among draft-eligible receivers).

But there are a couple of traits to me that stand out on the field about Sutton that make him an instant impact player at the next level.

The first trait — his ability to adjust to poorly thrown passes.

This is just a 30-second blip of Sutton and within it, you can see how well he adjusts to poorly thrown balls. I’m not necessarily saying he should get used to that, but it’s something that has certainly enhanced his overall grade for me.

One of the big knocks on Sutton as a receiver is his inability to consistently separate against tight man coverage. When he does separate from the coverage and gets himself wide open, he’s not thrown off by a poorly thrown pass.

More from Predominantly Orange

• Broncos chances of landing Sean Payton dwindling, but not gone
• Denver Broncos dream coaching staff for DeMeco Ryans
• Denver Broncos: “Sleeper” David Shaw checks every box
• The Broncos’ coaching search likely has not gone to plan
• Special Chiefs Suck Offer: Bet $5, Win $150 if Joe Burrow Passes for ONE YARD vs KC

That first touchdown in the highlight there against Baylor proves what I’m talking about. It would be easy for a receiver to reach back with just one hand or get too much momentum going one direction that they don’t have the ability to adjust to a ball like that.

This is a trait that shows up routinely when you watch Sutton play.

Another trait I really like about him? His catch radius.

He’s a big-bodied receiver with long arms and big hands to go along with speed and the ability to high point the football like a basketball player going after a rebound.

This trait will make him particularly effective in red zone work, and I love that the Broncos will have the flexibility this season to utilize Sutton in the slot.

When you put this type of receiver against a 5-foot-9 slot defensive back, you will automatically force defenses to put extra attention on him, opening up other opportunities for playmakers elsewhere on the field.

The Broncos can play with a variety of formations this season, and Bill Musgrave had better be up to the task. Creating mismatches is not a luxury the Broncos’ offense has had since the 2013-14 seasons when they had five different guys scoring 10 or more touchdowns.

I think as Sutton continues to expand his route tree, and improve his quickness, he’s going to be a lot for opposing defenses to deal with. The Broncos got a player they had graded as a first-round pick, and in 2018, we’re going to get the chance to see why.