4th Round Pick #133 Ryan Switzer

NoDak

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5'8"
HEIGHT

28"
ARM LENGTH

181LBS.
WEIGHT

9 1/4"
HANDS

OVERVIEW
While Switzer is not related to the famous college and NFL head coach of the same surname, Barry Switzer did reach out to the family by phone to see if there was any relation. The two-time West Virginia Gatorade High School Player of the Year was mostly known for his rushing ability (2,379 yards, 32 TD as a senior), but became well-regarded as a receiver and returner during his time in Chapel Hill. Switzer won several All-American and Freshman All-American awards in 2013, as well as first-team All-ACC notice as a specialist, because he tied the NCAA record of five punt returns for touchdowns (24-502, nation-best 20.9 average). He also got his beak wet as a receiver that year (32-341, three TD), though his contributions there increased as a sophomore (61-762, four TD; 37-172 on punt returns). Switzer earned All-American honors again for his punt returns in 2015 (22-302, two TD) but also picked up third-team All-ACC recognition after leading the Tar Heels in receiving (55-697, six TD). His accomplishments as a receiver outweighed those for his return skills (16-106) in his senior year. League coaches named him first-team All-ACC as a receiver in 2016 because he finished tenth in the country with 96 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns.

STRENGTHS High-volume target for UNC QB Mitch Trubisky. Reliable pass catcher with low career drop rate. Sudden feet to shake press defenders out of his release. Plays at his top speed and doesn't coast. Accelerates and separates on speed outs. Utilizes repeatable footwork in routes. Patterns are crisp. Comes out of breaks at sharp angles and snaps head around immediately to find the ball. Owns comeback routes by driving hard back to the throw. Shows traits of effective option-route specialist in short-yardage and red area. Able to defeat inside leverage technique and find his way back underneath. Had five punt-return touchdowns his freshman season and has seven for his career, with 19 career returns of more than 15 yards.

WEAKNESSES
Short target with very limited catch radius. Struggles to haul throws behind him. Needs accurate quarterbacking to do his job. Doesn't have get-away speed and will have NFL cornerbacks sitting on all of his underneath work. Benefits from misdirection within UNC offense. Not a hands-catcher. Routes feature similar speed throughout and could benefit from change of speeds. Quick but not overly athletic. Struggled to find yards for himself in catch-and-run hitch tosses and wide receiver screens.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 5

NFL COMPARISON David Anderson

BOTTOM LINE Wes Welker and Julian Edelman have become go-to comparisons for undersized slot receivers who utilize option routes to torment defenders underneath, but Switzer isn't quite on that level. However, he's able to create separation underneath and shows quality release quickness. Switzer is a slot-only target with punt return skills, but he has to find the right scheme fit to become a factor in the NFL.
 

Cotton

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The more I watch of this kid the more I like he pick. Dak and this offense have shown the ability to use the slot receiver very well. This dude seems to bring that return ability we have all been screaming for. I like it.
 

midswat

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Seems weird using rap in a highlight video for a white receiver. Couldn't they play some Florida Georgia Line instead?

He looks like a 12 year old out there.
 

NoDak

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The more I watch of this kid the more I like he pick. Dak and this offense have shown the ability to use the slot receiver very well. This dude seems to bring that return ability we have all been screaming for. I like it.
Well, at the very least he'll test Dak's accuracy. This guy looks like he has little doll arms broken off at the elbows.
 

dallen

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Beckham Jr Jr
 

Cotton

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Dude ran a 4.51 40, but he seems quick as hell.
 

dallen

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NoDak

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Damn. He got hosed on that call. That is a perfect example of a f'n referee making a call just because he THOUGHT something should have happened.
 

dallen

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I thought you just meant they whistled the play dead. Fucking asshole official calling a penalty on the player to cover up the fact they screwed up.
 

NoDak

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I thought you just meant they whistled the play dead. Fucking asshole official calling a penalty on the player to cover up the fact they screwed up.
Yeah. Turned out to be about a 75 yard "penalty" because the ref just assumed he should have called a fair catch. That fuck should have been fired immediately on the spot. Or at the very least, after the game once video proof could be shown to the powers that be.
 

Cotton

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Man, that was a terrible call. But, this cat has some damn good hands. Me likey.
 

NoDak

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[MENTION=24]mschmidt64[/MENTION] you're a Tarheels fan, right? Do you remember that play? What kind of backlash was there, if any?
 

GForce78NJ

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he better not pull that no fair catch shit in the nfl or he might legitimately die
 

BipolarFuk

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No. 133 Dallas Cowboys: Ryan Switzer, Wide Receiver, North Carolina

Strengths: Quickness, short-area elusiveness, hands.

Weaknesses: Size.

No need to belabor the point here: short, shifty, nifty slot receiver; quick off the line; fearless in traffic; too small to be anything but a role player.

I got to see a lot of Switzer at the Senior Bowl and during combine workouts, and he's a powerfully built little ballplayer who snatches the ball out of the air. Compare him to your favorite Patriots slot receiver or to incumbent Cole Beasley. It's OK. It's not problematic. That's what he's like. Grade: C-plus.
 

boozeman

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No. 133 Dallas Cowboys: Ryan Switzer, Wide Receiver, North Carolina

Strengths: Quickness, short-area elusiveness, hands.

Weaknesses: Size.

No need to belabor the point here: short, shifty, nifty slot receiver; quick off the line; fearless in traffic; too small to be anything but a role player.

I got to see a lot of Switzer at the Senior Bowl and during combine workouts, and he's a powerfully built little ballplayer who snatches the ball out of the air. Compare him to your favorite Patriots slot receiver or to incumbent Cole Beasley. It's OK. It's not problematic. That's what he's like. Grade: C-plus.
Side note: Is going to a coaching staff that will struggle to maximize his abilities beyond special teams.
 

UncleMilti

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I really like this kid.

He sure looks faster than 4.5

I watch NC football all the time (wife went there).....I think he'll do well on the return side of things.
 

BipolarFuk

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I really like this kid.

He sure looks faster than 4.5

I watch NC football all the time (wife went there).....I think he'll do well on the return side of things.
He was a fantastic RB at George Washington HS in Charleston. 2 time WV HS player of the year.
 

UncleMilti

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He was a fantastic RB at George Washington HS in Charleston. 2 time WV HS player of the year.
I'm real familiar with GW...I played for PHS way back in the day. Lots of good players filtered out of both schools.
 

Smitty

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Side note: Is going to a coaching staff that will struggle to maximize his abilities beyond special teams.
Side note to side note: He has skills as WR and won't need to be used any differently than any other slot WR so it's not like a coaching staff has to be "creative" other than sending him out in a four WR set.
 

Smitty

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You know who he reminds me of more than Cole Beasley?

Jamison Crowder.

That's who this pick is.

Almost exact same size and build. Switzer is actually quicker and faster. Jamison a little more explosive/can get higher elevation. Both can run some downfield routes with skill as opposed to a guy like Beasley who really can't and is more of an entirely underneath guy.
 
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