Cowboys Draft: Finding the Perfect Complement to Dez

By Reid Hanson | Mar 9, 2016

Sep 19, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Will Fuller (7) makes a diving catch against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

A number of dynamic receivers are expected to be available to the Cowboys at the top of the second round. This deep threat would be the perfect complement to Dez Bryant.

The Cowboys’ needs are primarily on the defensive side of the ball but that doesn’t mean the offense is anything close to settled. Tony Romo’s injury-filled 2015 signalled a need at QB. Whether the Cowboys see it as a top pick or a developmental project remains to be seen but the need is there.

The running game was a shell of its former self despite the dominance of the offenseive line. This makes RB an unquestioned need at some point this offseason. And the receiver position was exposed for its lack of depth and inability to beat single coverage. Adding a WR with respectable deep speed also remains a priority this offseason.

Will Fuller, the big play threat from Notre Dame, may be the perfect complement to Dez Bryant and this speed-deficient receiving corps. Turning in the bext 40 time at the NFL Combine, Fuller has solidified himself as the top deep threat in the 2016 draft class.

The Cowboys were exposed at receiver last season. Terrance Williams, the Cowboys’ number two, was tasked with picking up the slack left by Dez Bryant’s injury. It was a task he failed in nearly every way. Don’t let his week 17 performance mislead you – when the Cowboys needed plays last season, Williams fell short.

Picking a receiver high in the draft is every bit about Terrance Williams as it is about finding a complement to Dez Bryant. Williams was predominantly matched up in single coverage in 2015, yet he struggled mightily getting separation on both short and deep routes.

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Will Fuller is a proven big play WR. He leaves Notre Dame as the Irish’s #2 all-time receiver in TD catches and he did it leaving a year early (Fuller is leaving as a Junior). Fuller was Notre Dame’s #1 WR from day one and defenses treated him as such. Rarely was Fuller allowed to play against single coverage and safety help was commonplace on Fuller’s side of the field.

Even with the defense’s attention, Fuller repeatedly took the top off of coverage, creating separation at the last minute and high-pointing the ball for the big play. He averaged over 20 yards per reception in 2015 in route to his 62-catch, 1,258 yard season.

What’s most noteworthy is when Will Fuller made the big plays.

When the moments became critical (and the Irish were National Championship contenders most of the season so every game had critical moments), Will Fuller stepped up. Last minute drives, Hail Mary situations, and momentum-stopping rebuttles, the Irish went to Fuller. Defenses knew what was coming and they couldn’t do anything to stop it.

Even with a clocked 4.32 40 time, Fuller’s speed is hard to gauge. One moment he was effectively double covered with the safety in perfect position. The next moment he found some bizzare gear that moves him past everyone else as he’s tracking the ball through the air. It’s uncanny and needs to be watched on film to be fully understood.

I recommend watching everything on draftbreakdown.com to get a good look.

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Fuller isn’t big bodied and isn’t going to play the physical brand of ball that Dez Bryant plays. He’s a tackle avoider rather than a tackle breaker. And he is dynamic at avoiding tackles and collecting yards after the catch (YAC).

Screens, fades, slants, posts, and go-routes are all in his repertoire so he’s not solely a deep threat but rather a complete receiver. The main knock on Fuller has been his drops. Having watched every game of his in the 2015 season, I can confidently say his drops are a little overblown.

Most of his drops last season were during a rainy day against Boston College. All of the Irish receivers were dropping balls and while that isn’t excusable, it should alleviate some fears that he drops balls on a consistent basis. Furthermore, he’s at his best when the pressure is on and isn’t a player who chokes under pressure. He’s quite the contrary.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to Ted Gin Jr rather than to DeSean Jackson – something I vehemently disagree with. Ginn was not a polished receiver nor was he a natural pass-catcher. Fuller is both. He’s a natural receiver with amazing speed and athleticism. He’s sharp on his cuts and can run a full tree with precision.

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Some people are going to overblow the drops and downplay the need to upgrade the receiver opposite Dez Bryant. I can’t argue that defense is priority #1, #2, and #3 but if Will Fuller falls to the Cowboys in the second round, he may be too good to pass up. He’s the perfect complement to Dez today and the perfect replacement down the road.

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