If the Cowboys want to draft a receiver in the later rounds of the NFL Draft, a West Texas prospect could be a strong option.
Texas Tech’s Erik Ezukanma, one of the more underrated wide receivers in this year’s draft, is an intriguing prospect. He has a diverse skillset and has a great combination of size and athleticism. With a wide catch radius and strong hands, Ezukanma can haul in almost any pass thrown his way. He can leap to high point a pass or stretch out to catch a difficult pass thrown outside.
Not only does Ezukanma have strong hands, but he’s also dangerous after the catch. Ezukanma lined up primarily in the slot for Texas Tech and was relied on to generate yards after the catch. Thanks to his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and elusiveness in space, he was able to do that, averaging 24.8 yards per catch. Considering he didn’t get the chance to run many deep routes, that’s extremely impressive. He’s a physical receiver as well, able to bounce off tacklers and churn his legs for more yardage.
In addition to his catch radius and yards after catch ability, Ezukanma is also a strong possession receiver. After losing Amari Cooper, a possession receiver is a need for Dallas, especially in the red zone where Ezukanma thrives. It’s arguably his strongest trait, as he’s better in the middle of the field than any other area. Able to quickly get open, he’s a reliable red-zone target.
He definitely wouldn’t start for the Cowboys, at least in his first couple of years. But, Dallas severely lacks depth at wide receiver. Ezukanma can help solve that problem. He’s a dominant receiver who can be used all over the field. Ideally, Ezukanma plays as a slot receiver where he can show off his skills the best. With CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup lining up on the outside, Ezukanma can complement them well on the inside. He’s got massive potential and the Cowboys could use a receiver like him.
