Michael Pittman, Jr. | WR | USC
Elevator Pitch
Pittman is a big-bodied wideout with top-notch length, bulk and physicality for the wide receiver position. He has good ball skills and is a surprisingly refined athlete for a player as big as he is. Though he’s still developing, he has the potential to outplay his draft positioning in a stacked receiver class.
Vitals
Height | 6-4
Weight | 223
Strengths
If you’re looking for a massive receiver with red-zone potential, Pittman is one of the best in the class.
A tall wideout with a well-proportioned frame and plenty of play strength, Pittman excels in tight-window situations and does a good job of boxing out defensive backs, whether it be on the 50/50 ball or when running short routes. His size and physicality translates to when he goes up against press coverage, projecting him well as an ‘X’ receiver at the next level. That strength is also apparent as a blocker, as he’s a willing and able helper to his teammates on running plays who can drive back defensive backs.
Pittman isn’t just a big receiver, though; he offers some upside as a route runner and as an athlete. He has impressive body control for his size, showing off some underrated twitch in his cuts and good short-area burst. Pittman can make subtle movements with his feet to attack leverage points against defensive backs, and he can open up the hips of his opponents pretty well. His production in 2019 was also stellar, as he managed to catch 101 passes for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has an NFL pedigree, as his dad, Michael Pittman Sr., was a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Weaknesses
Though Pittman is a good athlete for his size, he doesn’t come without his athletic limitations. His acceleration off the snap is decent, at best, and he doesn’t offer much after the catch. He can’t make defenders miss incredibly well in the open field because of subpar lateral agility. Tight-window situations and shorter routes should be utilized more often than deeper routes and double moves in order to maximize Pittman’s skill set.
His route running abilities could still use some polishing, as well. As a taller receiver, he struggles to sink his hips and generate burst coming out of sharper breaking routes after building up speed. He doesn’t offer a whole lot in terms of hand techniques to create separation yet, and his stems could be improved, too. One could argue that Pittman is a one-year wonder, as his production prior to 2019 was mediocre at best.
Projection: 3rd Round
[vertical-gallery id=613832]