Prospects for Jags fans to watch: USC WR Michael Pittman Jr.

The Jags need some help at receiver and Michael Pittman Jr. offers some tools that could help in the red-zone.

It certainly is an interesting time in history to be covering sports. The athletic world has all but stopped as most leagues have been postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus that has plagued thousands around the nation. That said, the NFL has stated that it will continue moving forward (at least for now) with the new year just four days away.

If all remains the same, we still expect the NFL Draft to occur in late April, giving teams just under a month to finalize boards and figure out their plan of attack. The Jacksonville Jaguars will enter free agency with a total of 10 selections and likely will try to accumulate as they look to make more trades before draft day.

As teams finalize their draft boards, I will be as well. One of the players that I am higher on than most is USC’s wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Specifically for the Jags, he could be a slam dunk pick on the second day of the draft.

Michael Pittman Jr. (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) burst onto the scene his senior season at the University of Southern California, catching 101 balls for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. His impressive physicality at the catch-point and savviness as a route runner helped the young Trojan become one of the draft’s top receivers.

At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Pittman Jr. posted a solid week under the careful eye of 32 NFL teams. At a quite heavy 223 pounds, Pittman Jr. didn’t let that slow him down, running a 4.52 40-yard dash, which isn’t a bad time at all for a man of his stature.

Speed isn’t Pittman’s trump card, however, he’ll go up to snag the ball out of the air when a play is needed. In his senior season, Pittman hauled in 11 touchdowns for a struggling USC team. Against the Pac 12 Champions, the Utah Utes, Pittman put on a show, accumulating 10 catches for 232 yards and a touchdown. Here’s a clip of that impressive performance and Pittman’s 78-yard touchdown.

That clip from the Utah game beautifully encapsulates Pittman’s talents and is one of the most impressive games of tape that I saw from any prospect at any position. It was simply a clinic from the 6-foot-4 receiver.

After the catch, Pittman Jr. is just as physical, pushing for every yard he can get. He uses his size to his advantage and fights for that extra yardage that so many do not. He’s just as physical while running routes as well, creating space with his impressive stature.

Pittman would be the perfect fit for the Jaguars. The team struggled mightily in the red-zone in 2019, finishing 31st in the league. The USC standout would clear that issue up for the young Gardner Minshew II. Pittman would give the Jaguars a different type of receiver, one that uses their body to create separation and a reliable receiver with soft hands. Look for Michael Pittman Jr. to be under heavy consideration as the Jaguars enter Day 2 of the NFL draft, on the search for another weapon for Minshew.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s Jags Wire’s James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast, Bleav in Jags. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

Ep. 6

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