LA Chargers: Five players who could be the third receiver in 2020
Michael Pittman Jr.
Michael Pittman Jr. is one of the most pro-ready receivers in this class. His speed was a question for scouts at one point, but he impressed scouts pretty thoroughly at the combine. His 4.52 40 time was pretty good considering his stature. His speed score was off the charts when factoring in his height and weight, ranking in the 93rd percentile.
A lot of people are quick to call Pittman a receiver like Williams. They’re both big-bodied guys that can make a contested catch, but that’s where the comparisons end for me. My comparison for Pittman is actually Davante Adams. Their combine numbers are eerily similar when you look at them.
Both Adams and Pittman aren’t super fast, but there’s respectable speed that’s good enough to keep the defense on their heels. Comparing them at the points when they were coming out of college, Pittman may be the one with more consistency and better hands.
Pittman’s blocking ability also makes him less of a liability in run formations and downfield blocking. A second or third-round pick is high, but his intangibles and route running prowess make me believe he’d be a first-rounder in other draft years.
This is just absurd ball tracking and concentration from Michael Pittman Jr. pic.twitter.com/bQkF7FeGAM
— Jack (@JDM5335) March 27, 2020
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Despite free agency being almost over, there’s still some good talent. Robinson is a young, athletic talent with room to improve. Gabriel is an experienced vet who was a bad fit in Chicago but could work well in the slot with the LA Chargers. Thomas brings the most veteran experience with the ability to put up decent numbers.
In the draft, it’s simply hard to not like a lot of the receivers out there. Johnson is being heavily slept on for reasons I really don’t understand. Pittman is climbing up draft boards relative to where he was a few months ago, but he’s still a great fit for the Chargers.