When the 2020 NFL draft finally arrives on April 23, the Indianapolis Colts are likely to be deep into the wide receiver class—one that is expected to be one of the deeper groups in recent memory.
There are several prospects that would fit the Colts’ West Coast style offense under head coach Frank Reich. Pro Football Focus believes the perfect fit for the Colts at the wide receiver position is Michael Pittman Jr. out of USC.
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.
Pittman brings the size and ball skills to be an X-receiver for the Colts. He’s a lengthy wide receiver on the boundary standing at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds with 32.5-inch arms. Pittman recorded the fourth-highest three cone (6.96) at the NFL combine in February.
He’s not a burner but will make his money in contested catches. One thing Philip Rivers always harped on has been his desire to allow his boundary receivers to make plays downfield.
In 13 games at USC, Pittman recorded 101 receptions for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 12.6 yards per catch.
If the Colts decide to go the route of a bigger wide receiver—and they have been trying for a while—Pittman is likely one of the top targets in Round 2.