INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts tonight selected USC wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. with their second-round (34th-overall) pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Pittman Jr., who will turn 23 during the 2020 season, is a 6-foot-4, 223-pound Southern California product, where he was one of the nation's top pass catchers in 2019, finishing with 101 receptions for 1,275 yards (12.6 yards per reception) and 11 touchdowns in 13 starts.
Along the way, Pittman Jr. was named a Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist — presented annually to the top receiver in college football — and was also a Second-Team Associated Press All-American, as well as a First-Team All-Pac-12 selection.
In his four-year college career, Pittman Jr. logged 171 total receptions for 2,519 yards (14.7 yards per reception) with 19 scores.
Pittman's father, Michael Sr., was also an NFL running back for 11 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos.
In his NFL.com draft profile, draft analyst Lance Zierlein writes Pittman Jr. is "big, smart and reliable."
"Pittman falls into the 'possession receiver' bin, but has top-notch ball skills that allow him to bully and best cornerbacks down the field," Zierlein writes. "Improving release quickness against press will be an early focal point in an NFL camp, but his frame and physicality should create work space underneath even with close coverage. He lacks the speed and separation quickness teams covet from WR1 candidates, but he comes from NFL bloodlines and plays with a pro demeanor. He should be a productive plug-and-play talent at WR2 early in his career."
Pittman Jr. instantly becomes a key target for new Colts quarterback Philip Rivers. Already returning at the wide receiver for the Colts are T.Y. Hilton, Parris Campbell and Zach Pascal, while Rodney Adams, Ashton Dulin, Daurice Fountain, Malik Henry, Steve Ishmael and Marcus Johnson will battle it out for the final couple spots on Indy's final 53-man roster.
The Colts are next set to pick at 44th-overall in the second round.
