Meet Cowboys 4th round pick WR Ryan switzer

By Logan Carter

After focusing on defense for three straight rounds, the Cowboys snagged wide receiver Ryan Switzer from North Carolina with the 133rd pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The rookie, Switzer, will be joining a roster full of amazing slot receivers like Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams.

Ryan Switzer may turn out to be an exact replica of Cole Beasley in the slot, but will learn a lot as his apprentice this season. His quickness allows him to get open very often, as well as his accurate route running. Through catching everything thrown to him and speed, Switzer is a huge threat in making huge plays downfield. In his 2016 season at Chapel Hill, he recorded 96 receptions for 1,112 yards and 6 touchdowns. Switzer opened up the field for North Carolina and helped QB Mitch Trubisky’s numbers improve, which allowed him to become the second overall pick in the draft to the Chicago Bears.

Switzer is also an excellent punt returner with many predicting him as the best kick returner in the 2017 draft class. In his career at UNC, he matched the NCAA-record with eight career punt return touchdowns, while also averaging 10.6 yards per return. This will give Lucky Whitehead some competition in the Cowboy’s last WR spot and as a kick returner.

Over the past two seasons, the Dallas Cowboys have had problems in getting more production out of the last WR spot after Bryant, Williams, and Beasley. The Cowboys have also struggled from the kick returning position in several games. When Ryan Switzer was drafted Saturday afternoon, those problems were solved and can be a huge force at both positions, in seasons to come. Shifty players are hard to cover in the slot and Dallas will be able to put both Beasley and Switzer on the field at the same time.

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