Dallas Cowboys: 10 Wide Receivers and Their Fit

Jalen Hurd, Baylor

What’s Good: Work Ethic, Size, Change of Direction

What Ain’t Good: Speed, Drops, Experience

Less than two years ago, the Tennessee product decided for his long-term health that a switch from the running back to the wide receiver position would be in his best interest. It seems Hurd made a good decision with an impress senior season at Baylor.

Standing at a massive 6’5″ and 226 pounds, Hurd would be another player to fit the mold of the trendy big slot receiver. He isn’t fast but he can face up against smaller nickel backs and he possesses surprisingly good change of direction ability. For someone who ran a  4.63 40 yard dash at his pro day according to Kent Lee Platte, he can create separation surprisingly easily.

In addition, Hurd has the work ethic coaches and teams love. His transition from running back to wide receiver seemed so seamless and it’s more impressive considering he almost caught passes for almost 1000 yards. On every route he runs with intensity, he fights for the ball, and he fights to break tackles for more yards. He has a constant fire inside him that wants to prove his critics wrong.

However, for how hard Hurd works and plays, there are some concerns that are unavoidable. He needs some more experience at wide receiver. I am not discounting Hurd’s achievements, but the Big 12 does not produce top defensive backs. He will face better corners in the NFL who have more experience guarding big receivers in the slot.

His speed is a concern. When he runs deep, which he did a good amount in Waco, he doesn’t create much separation. His speed does limit his effectiveness on some routes, but not all routes require straight line speed. His change of direction ability and agility will take him far in this league.

Hurd is a good hands catcher, but he does have a bad tendency for dropping balls. For a tall, long guy, he can make catches away from his body that are impressive, but then he will miss balls that go right through his hands. While frustrating to watch, some more meaningful snaps should help dissolve this issue.

Hurd has the work ethic teams love with the size that will make lives difficult for defensive backs. If he ended up with the Cowboys, the Cowboys would be breaking a lot of trends. Not only does he not fit the slot receiver mold for the Cowboys, but also he doesn’t fit the regular Cowboy receiver mold.

Generally the Cowboys don’t select a receiver taller than 6’3″ but Hurd stands at 6’5″. The tallest wide receiver the Cowboys have drafted in the last five years was Devin Street who was 6’3″. Selecting Hurd would be a huge change and trend breaker. However, it seems this draft season the Cowboys are taking a different approach to the receiver prospects they’re visiting.

Hurd is a very different prospect but he does fit a new trend taking place in the NFL. Perhaps Kellen Moore has something cooked up we just don’t know yet?