Packers Land WR Michael Pittman in Peter King’s Mock Draft

In Peter King’s recent mock draft, he has the Green Bay Packers taking Michael Pittman Jr in Round 1, the wide receiver from USC.

We are all well aware of the current state of the Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver position after last season, and it’s a big reason why that position has dominated many mock drafts this offseason.

Up to this point, some popular selections at the receiver position in Round 1 for the Packers have been Jalen Reagor, Justin Jefferson, Denzel Mims, Laviska Shenault, and Brandon Aiyuk has received some attention as well at 30th overall.

However, one receiver who has garnered a lot more attention over the last month or so, especially among Packer fans, is Michael Pittman Jr. of USC. And even though Reagor, Mims, Sheanault, and Aiyuk were all available in Peter King’s mock draft, he had Green Bay selecting Pittman instead.

Here is what King had to say about the draft pick for the Packers:

"“Professional receiver. Most have him in the second round. But the Packers don’t pick again till 62, and they see a solid but unspectacular disciplined route-runner and competitive 50-50-ball player. “He’s so reliable,” one coach told me Saturday. “He might get lost in a crop of receivers this good, but he shouldn’t. He’ll be a good receiver in the league for a long time.” Speaking of competitive receivers who were a quarterback’s best friend: Jordy Nelson, 6-3, 220 — Michael Pittman, 6-4, 222.”"

When it comes to his measurables, at 6’4″ – 223 pounds with a relative athletic score of 8.19, Pittman has that big body and athleticism that the Green Bay Packers typically covet at the wide receiver position. And while many draft analysts have Pittman as a second-round talent, with his physical traits and skill-set, he is the type of receiver that the Packers love to draft.

It was in 2018 during his junior season at USC that Pittman would break out. In 10 games that year he would total 758 yards at whopping 18.5 yards per catch with six touchdowns. And this previous season was even better. Pittman would go for 1,275 yards with 101 receptions and 11 touchdowns.

At USC, Pittman has shown that he is an uber-reliable receiving target having just five drops out of 176 catchable passes in his career according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His catch radius will provide Aaron Rodgers with another big target and a potential weapon in the red-zone. While he is also a physical route runner that will go up and get the football.

Here is what Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network had to say about Pittman in his scouting report:

"“Michael Pittman Jr projects to the NFL as a stereotypical ‘X’ receiver. With his size and ball skills, Pittman can provide an NFL team with a presence as a possession receiver. Separation is never going to be calling card and lack of consistency there may cause him to be more of a rotational receiver. But his high point ability, hands and body control will afford him plenty of opportunities to make plays in the RZ and, in the right system, push for high volume snaps.”"

While Pittman was a very good player at USC, his skill-set is a bit redundant when looking at who the Packers already have at receiver on the roster. He’s another big body, possession receiver that isn’t known for picking up yards after the catch. Sound familiar? Well, it should because the Green Bay Packers already have a few of those guys.

If Pittman is available at pick No. 62 in Round 2, I am much more on board with the selection. However, in Round 1 if Green Bay does in fact take a receiver, I’d much rather see them go with Reagor, Jefferson, Shenault or Aiyuk, who all provide a different skill-set than what the Packers currently have on the roster.