The Jets don’t have many selling points, but their soon to be third-year quarterback is definitely one of them. Michael Pittman Jr., who was teammates with Sam Darnold at the University of Southern California, certainly thinks so.
Pittman played with Darnold in 2016 and 2017 as he began his collegiate career. In his first two seasons, Pittman had 29 receptions for 486 yards and two touchdowns.
“That would be great,” Pittman said of a reunion, according to the New York Post. “Sammy D was like one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever played with. He’s just a straight gamer. He is a young quarterback that has 10-15 years left. That would be nice to have that run with him.”
Pittman is coming off a breakout season in which he caught 101 passes for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. His excellent senior season earned him an invitation to this week’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. With the Jets in need of receivers, Pittman could be someone that New York sets its sights on come Day 2 of April’s draft.
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay listed Pittman as one of his top five wide receivers in April’s draft
“He’s big. He’s 6-foot-4. He’s 220 pounds,” McShay said via 247 Sports. “He just looks the part of the wide receiver that you are looking for in the NFL. He doesn’t have great speed, but what he does so well is separate late and create yards after the catch because he’s so strong and he’s so focused as a player. He has 95 catches this year for USC. They’ve had a lot of problems offensively, I get it but Pittman, to me, is one of the best five wide receivers in this upcoming NFL Draft.”
Pittman would be a nice addition to a team lacking a true No. 1 threat at wide receiver. He would be welcomed with open arms and it certainly helps that he has a rapport with the starting quarterback.