While the Indianapolis Colts search for a wideout in the NFL Draft, there appears to be a receiver that is a “perfect fit.”
Under head coach Frank Reich’s West Coast offensive style, there are some receivers that will adapt better than others.
For Pro Football Focus, there’s one receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft that will make a perfect fit for the puzzle.
That would be Michael Pittman Jr. out of USC.
PFF’s Reasoning
Pittman is 6-foot-4, 223 pounds, and possesses 32.5-inch arms.
At the NFL Combine, Pittman recorded the fourth-best three-cone drill time of 6.96.
PFF gave this synopsis when breaking down the reason for Pittman’s fit with the Colts:
“Philip Rivers loves giving his receivers a chance to make plays down the field, but the Colts don’t currently have much in the way of size at the position on their roster. Pittman combines physicality with the ability to separate at the underneath and intermediate levels of the field in a way few others do in the draft class. And he almost never lets the ball hit the turf with five drops on 176 catchable targets in his career.”
The Numbers
In 13 games last season, Pittman finished with 101 receptions for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, he averaged 12.6 yards per catch.
According to some mock drafts, Pittman will be available in the second round.
Pittman may not possess all the speed in the world, but he does have the ability to make contested grabs in games.
The catch.
The run.
Michael Pittman Jr. extends USC’s lead 🔥
(via @Pac12Network)pic.twitter.com/Rb40BfUWju
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 21, 2019
Other Stats
In his high school career, Pittman finished with nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns.
In the final game of his career, Pittman recorded 16 receptions for 354 yards and five touchdowns at Oaks Christian High School.
His efforts landed him USA Today’s All-California Offensive Player of the Year honors.
After enrolling in USC as a freshman in 2016, Pittman played primarily as a reserve, but also on the kick return team.
His efforts on special teams landed him a place on the First-Team All-Pac 12 list.
Michael Pittman, Jr., WR, USC:
• NFL DNA (+)
• Has a GPS on the ball in the air (++)
• Easy releases off of the LOS
• Higher elevator levels than others
• Contested catch monster
• Added branches to route tree in 2019pic.twitter.com/ZJ3Szk173s— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) March 15, 2020
Pittmans’s junior season (2018) featured 41 receptions for 758 yards receiving, which landed him Honorable-Mention All-Conference accolades.
As for his senior year, you know the rest.
His play included being named a Biletnikoff Award finalist, Second-Team AP All-American, and First Team All-Pac 12.
Another fun fact is that his father was a running back that played 11 seasons after playing college ball at Fresno State.
In Comparison
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Pittman to Denver Bronco’s wide receiver Courtland Sutton.
On NFL.com, Zierlein gave this scouting report:
“Big, smart and reliable, Pittman falls into the “possession receiver” bin, but has top-notch ball skills that allow him to bully and best cornerbacks down the field. Improving release quickness against press will be an early focal point in an NFL camp, but his frame and physicality should create work space underneath even with close coverage. He lacks the speed and separation quickness teams covet from WR1 candidates, but he comes from NFL bloodlines and plays with a pro demeanor. He should be a productive plug-and-play talent at WR2 early in his career.”
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