The 2020 NFL draft is creeping up, and the Seattle Seahawks will once again look to stock up on talent at a variety of different positions as they continue to stay near the top of the standings in the crowded NFC West.
Last year, the team took three wide receivers among their 11 picks in an effort to give Russell Wilson more young weapons, while replacing the retired Doug Baldwin.
Only one of those three rookies, DK Metcalf, emerged as a viable weapon however, and with Jaron Brown and David Moore set to hit free agency the Seahawks could once again turn to the draft to find a new third option behind Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
While the team probably won’t use their first round pick on a receiver, one option they could explore in the middle rounds is USC’s Michael Pittman Jr.
Pittman Jr. is fresh off an excellent senior year for the Trojans, where he racked up 101 receptions for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns, finishing first or second in the PAC-12 in every category.
Pittman Jr.’s greatest asset for the Seahawks is his size. Standing six-foot-four and a sturdy 219 pounds, MPJ is a tough, physical specimen on the outside. He has also drawn elite praise for his pass-catching ability and overall catch radius, traits that make him an ideal No. 3 receiver and potential first down machine for Wilson and company.
Pittman Jr. does have his negatives, namely a lack of acceleration and top of the line speed that doesn’t afford him a lot of separation, but paired with a quarterback like Wilson who excels and throwing the deep ball and has elite accuracy, MPJ should thrive.
Analysts have compared Pittman to former Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe and former Eagles receiver Riley Cooper, and while he will probably make his initial mark as a possession receiver and key contributor on special teams – something coach Pete Carroll always looks for in his draft picks – there’s little reason to believe he can’t reach those lofty marks in the right offense.
Pittman Jr. will be at the NFL combine, and his speed will be the biggest factor in determining how he is valued by teams.
If he is available in the middle rounds, the Seahawks would be getting an offensive piece that is an excellent fit with their current personnel.
[lawrence-related id=56194]