NFL insider Peter King has joined the massive group of prognosticators who believe the Green Bay Packers will take a wide receiver in the first round.
King’s first and only mock draft for NBC Sports projected the Packers to take USC receiver Michael Pittman at No. 30 overall.
Pittman was the sixth and final receiver mocked in the first round by King, following CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Justin Jefferson, Henry Ruggs and Tee Higgins.
Pittman is a strong combination of polish, production and athleticism.
As a senior at USC, Pittman caught 101 passes for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 6-4, 223-pound receiver impressed at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, with a 36.5″ vertical leap and a 6.96-second finish in the three-cone drill.
Most national mock drafts have the Packers selecting a player from this strong receiver class in the first two rounds. King’s rationale for taking one at No. 30 is that several of the top receivers were already off the board and the Packers might not be able to wait until pick No. 62 to get a quality one.
Pittman would give the Packers a well-rounded pass-catcher who can play on the outside, win downfield in the vertical game and thrive in a possession receiver role in the intermediate areas. And he’s so solid in so many areas that he may be ready to contribute right away as a rookie.
King also mentioned the Packers as a landing spot for Utah State quarterback Jordan Love, who wasn’t projected in the first round. King believes Love could realistically land in Green Bay with the Packers’ second-round pick.
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