Colts
Colts HC Frank Reich views second-round WR Michael Pittman Jr. as a potential “X-receiver” due to his size, speed, strength, and maneuverability.
“I always talk about receivers (and) there are kind of four factors into it,” said Reich, via Kevin Bowen of 1075TheFan. “You’ve got to feel the receiver’s power. So we see Michael as being an X-receiver and being the kind of guy you can line up and go one-on-one with. The four factors that go into that are size and strength, and speed and quickness. It is (that) combination of four things that go into receiver. That’s what the defensive back feels when he comes off the ball. Michael’s got size, he’s got strength, he’s got good speed for his size, and then he has what we call good-body quickness. He is not a jukey receiver like the small slot receivers you’re seeing, but when you have a big man who has good body quickness, that presents a problem. Then he has excellent ball skills, really good feet for a big man. Sometimes you get a big man and they win one-on-one matchups just by outmuscling people. Michael has good enough feet and good enough technique and skill that he is a good route runner.”
Reich and his staff believe Pittman will develop “probably faster” than other prospects given his maturity and skill level.
“It usually takes receivers a little bit of time, but we think he has the maturity and the skill to develop probably faster than most. It still will take some time, but we are excited about that. You’ve got to have guys like a T.Y. Hilton who you know can be your dog, can be your go-to guy. Michael needs to develop into that for us. That’s our hope, that is our vision for him.”
Jaguars
Jaguars HC Doug Marrone said new QB Mike Glennon brings a “comfort level” to that position group alongside Gardner Minshew and Josh Dobbs.
“For me, there’s a comfort level from having a veteran presence in that room,” Marrone said, via John Oehser of the team’s official site.
Marrone mentioned that he has a “good background” with Glennon after studying him during his college career at N.C. State and will compete for a role.
“Having studied Mike quite a bit when he was coming out of N.C. State, and having a good background with him, I really feel he’s going to help out football team in a lot of different ways,” Marrone said. “Bring experience to the room, go out on the field and compete.”
Marrone added that he wanted to sign a veteran quarterback given they did not select a quarterback prospect early on in the 2020 NFL Draft.
“I’m happy with that. I wasn’t trying to hide anything. I was trying to make sure that if we didn’t do something early in the draft that we were going to get some of veteran presence in there.”
Marrone is unsure how Minshew will handle higher expectations for 2020 after the team traded veteran Nick Foles to the Bears.
“I don’t know,” Marrone said. “That’s really a question for him. I’m just expecting to get his best. He’s been in so many tough, adverse situations on his path and journey to the NFL. I’m assuming he’ll rely on a lot of that.”
Marrone also said that Minshew has done well in developing relationships with his teammates, which is important for all of the Jaguars’ players to accomplish.
“He’s done a good job since he has been here of developing a relationship with the players. Everyone else has to be in tune to that, too. It will be interesting how that cultivates, especially at a time when it’s difficult to build that chemistry at a time when everything right now is virtual.”
Texans
- Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle notes that the Texans have roughly $15.89 million in salary-cap space and are just under the NFL limit of $198.2 million, which could affect the team’s ability to sign QB Deshaun Watson to an extension.
- According to Wilson, Texans undrafted rookie LB Jan Johnson chose to sign with the Texans over the Steelers, Titans, Saints and Jets. He agreed a three-year contract with the Texans that included $15,000 guaranteed with a $5,000 signing bonus and $10,000 of his base salary guaranteed.
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