Texans should turn to loaded WR draft with DeAndre Hopkins gone

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 25: General view prior to the start of the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 25: General view prior to the start of the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 16: Michael Pittman Jr. #6 of the USC Trojans catches a touchdown pass over Elijah Hicks #3 of the California Golden Bears during the second quarter of an NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 16: Michael Pittman Jr. #6 of the USC Trojans catches a touchdown pass over Elijah Hicks #3 of the California Golden Bears during the second quarter of an NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Michael Pittman Jr.

Probably the most likely of the wide receivers discussed so far to fall to Houston in the second round is Michael Pittman Jr. out of USC. Pittman is the son of former NFL running back Michael Pittman.

Not the same big play threat as the last few receivers mentioned, Pittman however is a big body that can make tough catches. This past season, Pittman caught 101 passes and got into the end zone 11 times. He also surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his college career, tallying 1,275 yards.

Pittman has a big frame at 6’4 and 223 pounds, but also possesses NFL speed. At the combine in Indianapolis, Pittman ran a 4.52 40-yard dash. While he is not the speedster that Will Fuller is, Pittman will have no problem stretching the field and winning jump balls down the field with his 36.5 inch vertical.

What the Texans don’t have in their current receivers, they could get in Pittman. This may be an obvious recurring theme, but Pittman is a big receiver that can provide a target for tough catches and jump balls in the red zone. Fuller, Kenny Stills and Randall Cobb can help move the ball downfield, but Pittman possesses size that you can’t teach.

Some mock drafts actually have Pittman falling into the second round, and while there is no guarantee he will be the receiver that DeAndre Hopkins is, he certainly looks like he can turn into a good NFL player.