Entering the 2020 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts have a major need at the wide receiver position, potentially bigger than any other spot on the roster. One prospect rising quickly as a potential target is USC’s Michael Pittman Jr.
There are several wide receiver prospects that could help the Colts. While T.Y. Hilton is still leading the room, he’s been injured during the last two seasons. Zach Pascal has emerged as a solid complementary piece, but there isn’t much experience behind them.
Adding a wide receiver like Pittman would do wonders for the room. The Colts don’t have that stereotypical X-receiver in the room, and Pittman would fill that role immediately.
He doesn’t have long speed to break off a slant to the house, but he’s extremely physical at the catch point and understands how to use his size, length and athleticism to be a strong possession receiver underneath and even on the boundary.
He’s not going to win with speed, and his route running isn’t the most diverse. However, Pittman knows how to beat the press and can even be a vertical threat given his strong releases and ability to physically out-man defenders.
One aspect that is interesting about Pittman being a potential prospect the Colts could target is the type of receiver that Philip Rivers likes to have.
In Frank Reich’s system, a lot of the concepts are derived from the West Coast scheme. This means Rivers will be getting the ball out quickly and into the hands of his receivers, allowing them to do work after the catch.
But throughout Rivers’ career, he’s always had that long boundary receiver to target downfield. He’s had players like Vincent Jackson, Malcom Floyd and Keenan Allen. Pittman could serve as a weapon on the boundary and one that finds work both underneath and down the field.
The Colts’ passing offense isn’t one that takes a lot of downfield shots. As Reich describes it, they are an offense that takes jabs stretching the field horizontally while looking for an opening downfield to take the big hit.
Pittman isn’t a vertical threat in the sense that he will burn a defender off the line. Instead, he can use his physicality, length and high-point ability to win consistently on the boundary.
There are several strong wide receiver candidates in the draft for the Colts to consider, but Pittman is rising quickly as a top fit for the offense and should be heavily in consideration in the second round.