michael pittman jr – Syndication Server

4 most impactful matchups in Saints vs. Colts

Running back vs. linebacker are the biggest matchups in Saints vs. Colts. Jonathan Taylor and Alvin Kamara have tough tests on their hands

The New Orleans Saints face off against the Indianapolis Colts this weekend. Anthony Richardson is out for the season due to injury, and the dynamic rookie quarterback was supposed to be one of the bigger challenges in this game. Despite his absence, there are still many matchups that make this game exciting.

Indianapolis just scored 38 points on the Cleveland Browns a week ago. This speaks to the talent of some of their weapons. However, they lost that game because the Browns scored 39. This means the Saints are going to have to find ways to score points just in case they aren’t able to limit the Colts offense.

Here are the 4 matchups to watch in this week’s game:

4 players the Seahawks could take on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft

The Seattle Seahawks have plenty of positions of need to address on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft. Here are four players they could target.

The Seattle Seahawks shocked the NFL world in two big ways on Thursday evening. First, they actually used their original first round pick – the first time they’ve done that since 2011 – and second, they used it on a speedy, run-stuffing middle linebacker, which doesn’t exactly address a position of need.

While there is some reason to be optimistic about Jordyn Brooks, the Seahawks will have to address some key areas of need in rounds 2-3 of the NFL draft, set to begin on Friday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m. PT.

Pass rush, offensive tackle and some skill positions (running back and wide receiver) are areas this team could stand to improve upon in the NFL draft, and will likely address at least in some fashion on Friday evening.

Here are four players who are still available who the Seahawks could target with their remaining picks on Day 2 of the draft, which are as follows:

Round 2 (59)

Round 2 (64)

Round 3 (101) (Supplemental)

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Could the son of a former Buccaneer be Tampa bound?

In Draft Wire’s latest 7 round mock draft, Luke Easterling has this receiver coming to Tampa. And it turns out he’s the son of a former Buc.

The NFL draft is less than two weeks away, so final mock drafts will be coming in at bulk over the next several days, which is good news for sports fans stuck inside at home.

While the general consensus among draft experts right now is that the Buccaneers will take an offensive tackle in round one to help protect new investment Tom Brady, it’s anyone’s guess what the Bucs will do in the following rounds. Running back and safety are needs as well, but what about wide receiver?

The Bucs certainly don’t seem to need help at that position, considering they have both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. But, both Evans and Godwin went down late last season with hamstring injuries, so perhaps getting some insurance might not be a bad idea.

In Draft Wire’s latest seven-round mock draft, Luke Easterling has the Bucs using their third-round pick (No. 76) on USC wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. If Bucs fans are wondering why that name sounds so familiar, it’s because his father, Michael Pittman Sr., was a running back for the Buccaneers for six seasons, including back in 2002 during the team’s Super Bowl-winning season.

Pittman Jr. would be a huge addition to an already stacked Bucs receiving corps. In his senior year at USC in 2019, Pittman had 101 receptions for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. I’m sure Brady, and Pittman’s father, would approve of his selection by the Bucs, should it happen.

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Seahawks Wire Mock 2.0: Predicting Seattle’s picks in 2020 NFL Draft

A look at seven players the Seattle Seahawks could select in the 2020 NFL draft, following their moves in free agency.

The Seattle Seahawks, through the first week of free agency, have made a handful of moves to further solidify areas of need on the 2020 roster.

Those moves have almost certainly altered their draft board, putting heavier emphasis on some positions while making other positions less important.

Here at the Seahawks Wire, we have altered our draft projections as well. Using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine, we ran another potential mock draft based on Seattle’s updated needs, and the loss of a fifth round pick thanks to the Quinton Dunbar trade.

Here is a write-up of each of the seven mocked selections for the Seahawks, and why the picks would make sense for Pete Carroll, John Schneider and company as they look to build a Super Bowl contender in 2020.

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Seahawks Wire’s post-combine mock has team selecting EDGE

Everyone else is doing a mock draft, so why not us? Here is a look at what the Seattle Seahawks could do in the 2020 NFL draft.

The Seattle Seahawks, perhaps more than any other team in the NFL, are unpredictable when it comes to the NFL draft.

General manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have a unique way of evaluating talent, and the team’s desire to trade down and collect more draft picks has benefited them quite a bit in the past – and is entirely on the table again in 2020.

With the combine over and Pro Day season in full-swing, I decided to take a shot on my first official mock draft of the season. Using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator – which does not account for comp picks – I selected five players who I think could be realistic targets for the Seahawks this year, starting with a potential first round pass rusher.

Round 1, Pick No. 27: Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin

There are a whole lot of people who have been mocked to the Seahawks in the first round, mostly on the defensive side of the ball.

While this class is not nearly as deep at defensive end as the 2019 class was, Baun is one of many EDGE defenders who could find his way to Seattle at No. 27 overall.

Baun is projected as a better fit in 3-4 defensive sets, but his versatility all along the defensive line will appeal to coach Pete Carroll, and his twitchiness and explosiveness will make him a strong pass rusher in due time.

He still has some development to do, which could give Seattle pause, but there is a reason he has drawn comparisons to Clay Matthews. If he’s around at No. 27 overall, it will be hard for Seattle to pass him up.

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2020 NFL draft: Why USC’s Michael Pittman is a good fit for Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are in the market for more wide receiver depth, and USC’s Michael Pittman Jr. is an ideal target in the 2020 NFL draft.

The 2020 NFL draft is creeping up, and the Seattle Seahawks will once again look to stock up on talent at a variety of different positions as they continue to stay near the top of the standings in the crowded NFC West.

Last year, the team took three wide receivers among their 11 picks in an effort to give Russell Wilson more young weapons, while replacing the retired Doug Baldwin.

Only one of those three rookies, DK Metcalf, emerged as a viable weapon however, and with Jaron Brown and David Moore set to hit free agency the Seahawks could once again turn to the draft to find a new third option behind Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

While the team probably won’t use their first round pick on a receiver, one option they could explore in the middle rounds is USC’s Michael Pittman Jr.

Pittman Jr. is fresh off an excellent senior year for the Trojans, where he racked up 101 receptions for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns, finishing first or second in the PAC-12 in every category.

Pittman Jr.’s greatest asset for the Seahawks is his size. Standing six-foot-four and a sturdy 219 pounds, MPJ is a tough, physical specimen on the outside. He has also drawn elite praise for his pass-catching ability and overall catch radius, traits that make him an ideal No. 3 receiver and potential first down machine for Wilson and company.

Pittman Jr. does have his negatives, namely a lack of acceleration and top of the line speed that doesn’t afford him a lot of separation, but paired with a quarterback like Wilson who excels and throwing the deep ball and has elite accuracy, MPJ should thrive.

Analysts have compared Pittman to former Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe and former Eagles receiver Riley Cooper, and while he will probably make his initial mark as a possession receiver and key contributor on special teams – something coach Pete Carroll always looks for in his draft picks – there’s little reason to believe he can’t reach those lofty marks in the right offense.

Pittman Jr. will be at the NFL combine, and his speed will be the biggest factor in determining how he is valued by teams.

If he is available in the middle rounds, the Seahawks would be getting an offensive piece that is an excellent fit with their current personnel.

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