With the 34th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft the Colts select USC wide receiver Michael Pittman …
Michael Pittman Career Statistics
| Year | Age | Rec | Team % | ReYds | Team % | ReTD | Team % | Yds/TmAtt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 19.3 | 6 | 1.97% | 82 | 2.28% | 0 | 0.00% | 0.17 |
| 2017 | 20.3 | 23 | 7.44% | 404 | 9.65% | 2 | 7.69% | 0.83 |
| 2018 | 21.3 | 41 | 16.80% | 758 | 25.36% | 6 | 33.33% | 1.89 |
| 2019 | 22.3 | 101 | 26.76% | 1275 | 29.21% | 11 | 31.43% | 2.48 |
Many expected Pittman to break out in 2018 after Deontay Burnett left for the NFL, but it took Pittman an extra year to get there. He posted a 101-1,275-11 line this past season after 70-1,244-8 through three years at USC. In his final season, Pittman registered over 50% of his career receptions (59.1%), receiving yards (50.6%) and touchdowns (57.9%). That late-career breakout and being a non-early declare wideout places him in tough company in terms of having high odds of being a standout.
That late-career breakout dings him some, he still checks boxes in size (6’4”, 223 pounds) and athleticism (85th percentile). He also dropped just five of his 176 career targets. Pittman is a prototype X receiver, lining up in the slot for just 13.6% of his snaps over the past three seasons. He also broke just 20 career tackles on his 171 receptions.
Wide receiver was a problem for the Colts all of 2019. Indianapolis wideouts combined for 9.6 receptions (27th) and 120.1 receiving yards per game (28th). Lead wideout T.Y. Hilton will be 31 years old this upcoming season and is in the final season of his contract. Last season’s second-round pick (59th overall) Parris Campbell only appeared in seven games as a rookie. Zach Pascal had a positive second season in the league, catching 41-of-72 targets for 607 yards (14.8 Y/R) and will be a restricted free agent. Adding Philip Rivers this offseason via free agency, getting offensive weapons was an immediate and long term need for the Colts’ offense.
