Round 3, Pick 76

Michael Pittman, Jr., WR, USC

Height: 6-4

Weight: 223

Class: Senior

D.O.B.: 10/5/97

Statistical Profile: The son of former Bucs’ running back and Super Bowl champion of the same name, Michael Pittman, Jr. erupted onto the college football landscape as a junior with 41 catches for 758 yards and six touchdowns. As a senior, Pittman really took off though, grabbing 101 passes for almost 1,300 yards and 11 scores.

Scouting Pittman: Pittman may not be a downfield burner or a schemed target in the passing game, but basically everything in between he’s terrific at. I went into his tape expecting another contested catch monster who offered little else, and while is excellent in tight spots down the field, Pittman is a far more complete prospect than he’s given credit for.

Pittman isn’t explosive, but he knows how to create separation by varying his pace and by using his hands to keep defenders off balance. He’s physical throughout the route tree, and can hand fight and post up opponents without losing his focus on the most important thing: the ball. The dude will finish through contact like there’s nobody even there. His 223-pound frame, 32.5-inch arms and almost 37-inch vertical don’t hurt either.

The bottom line with Pittman is that he just hardly ever makes a mistake. He doesn’t drop the football, he constantly finds space and adjusts his routes against zone coverage, he works back to the ball, he shields off hard-charging defenders at the catch point, he fights for the sticks any time he’s in the same zip code and he never takes a play off – especially in the run game as a blocker (he’s one of the best in the class).

Bottom of the screen below, great outside-in release on the slant pattern. Keeps his hands active to ward off the punch from the corner and ensure he gets a clean break into his pattern.

Doesn’t get the ball on the play below, but what a terrific head fake at the top of the route to get the corner to break inside while Pittman heads to the sideline. The best way to create space despite not being explosive is to have a big bag of tricks in your route-running repertoire to create space. Pittman has that.

As easy as it is to like Pittman’s game, it’s important to be realistic about some of his limitations. He’s fast enough to win in the vertical portions of the field, but not a speedster and not especially explosive off the line of scrimmage, either. USC also rarely schemed the ball into his hands in the quick game, as Pittman isn’t the most creative or elusive player after the catch.

Pittman’s ceiling may be reached already, but when you can acquire a consistent, reliable receiving threat who can win at all three levels of the field, constantly keep the chains moving and be a strong asset in the red zone, you should probably get that guy on your team. I don’t know if I would consider Pittman dynamic enough to be the focal point of a team’s passing attack, but what he does well would add value to almost every scheme in the league as a high-end No. 2 type of receiver.

Bucs Fit: Pittman’s size, athletic testing and tape all scream “Bucs wide receiver prospect,” from his towering frame to his quality 4.52 40 at 223 pounds, to his USC usage in a role very similar to how Arians’ offense would likely feature him in Tampa Bay. Pittman played mostly on the outside for the Trojans, but I think he’d be a very effective big slot receiver too, while still being able to play the majority of his snaps outside and challenge defenses down the field and on return routes (comeback/curl, hitch/stick).

The fit is extremely ideal, but Pittman may not even be on the board at No. 76. Would the Bucs pull the trigger at No. 45? I’d love to see Pittman in pewter and red, and I think Tom Brady would eventually love it, too. You can’t often get wide receivers on Day 2 of the draft who can help you win right away, but Pittman is absolutely one of those guys. He’s a name not being talked about much that could make a ton of sense in Tampa Bay.