Houston Texans Draft: Michael Pittman Jr. could be the answer at WR

The Houston Texans draft decision makers need to be interested in a wide receiver in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

With the entire Houston Texans draft taking place from the home of Bill O’Brien, the general manager/head coach needs to be on his game, have good internet speed, and most importantly have Michael Pittman Jr. on his draft radar.

There is still much anger and ill feelings between the fan base of the Houston Texans geared toward O’Brien for trading All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Though fans will unlikely ever forgive O’Brien for trading one of the greatest players in franchise history for not much in return, there is still hope the Texans draft plans include drafting a wide receiver with one of their two second round picks.

This is where Michael Pittman Jr. enters the discussion, and the 6’3, 225-pound wide receiver makes for very exciting and hopeful conversation, which is needed discussion for many Texans fans.

Why should the Houston Texans draft include Michael Pittman Jr.?

The answer to that question is simple … the man from the University of Southern California can play some football, and the Texans need to draft a wide receiver, if for nothing else, insurance purposes for the Texans’ current depth chart at wide receiver.

We all know the big names of the Texans wide receivers include Kenny Stills, Randall Cobb and the new No. 1 wide receiver target Will Fuller. There is also the likes of DeAndre Carter, Keke Coutee and Steven Mitchell Jr., who are also notable names.

None of those names jump off the page like the player traded to the Arizona Cardinals, but they aren’t terrible, either. Fuller, if healthy for the entire season, will be a top threat in the league with Deshaun Watson throwing him the football. Stills is still a reliable receiver, and Cobb has a chance to have decent numbers as he’s hit double-digit seasons in the league.

Now more about Pittman Jr. and where he fits in with the roster if a part of the Texans draft plans. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Pittman Jr. with a second-round grade, which is great for Houston as their first pick in this year’s draft is 40th overall, the eighth pick in the draft.

One of the best things about Pittman Jr. and the possibility of joining the roster if a part of the Texans draft is his size. As mentioned before, at 6’4, 223 pounds, he possesses size and speed currently not on the Texans’ wide receiver depth chart. Pittman Jr. also ran a 4.52 40-yard dash.

Imagine the rookie being paired up with Watson, giving Watson a big receiving target on the outside, and not only that, but a wide receiver who at first have the best overall coverage. Want to be excited more about Pittman before the Texans draft? Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compares Pittman Jr. to Courtland Sutton of the Denver Broncos.

There is no secret the Texans need to add some more talented, skillful and youthful players for long-term success of this franchise, and Pittman Jr. makes the Texans offense with him, rather than without him as a member of their team.

In Pittman’s final collegiate season at USC, he collected 101 receptions for 1,275 yards with 11 touchdowns and a 12.6 yards per reception average. Pittman ended the 2019 regular season with four straight games of over 100 yards receiving against Arizona State (13-146-0), California (11-180-1), and UCLA (13-104-2).

In a bowl game against Iowa, Pittman Jr. totaled six receptions for 53 yards and no touchdowns.

Also last season at USC, Pittman Jr. had seven receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns against Colorado, and against No. 10 ranked Utah, his numbers were outstanding at 10 receptions for 232 yards and one touchdown, with his top reception going for 77 yards in that game.

There could be the chance the Texans can wait and draft Pittman Jr. with the 40th overall selection because there are so many highly touted wide receivers in this year’s draft class, but is that too much of a risk?

Houston would be smart to select a wide receiver with at least one of their second-round picks. With the positives of Pittman Jr. outweighing the negatives, the Texans will have a decision to make if he’s still the board at 40th overall. Let’s all hope they make the correct choice.