Five NFL Teams that would benefit from drafting Dante Pettis

 As Dante Pettis prepares for a career in the NFL, here’s a look at how he could improve these NFL teams. Although five teams are highlighted, his receiving ability and big play potential as a returner should make him a versatile option anywhere.

Pettis only caught two touchdowns in his first two seasons with Washington and had limited impact. But he became Jake Browning’s most reliable option in his junior season, hauling in 15 scores. And before he went down with a left leg injury in this past Apple Cup, he totaled 761 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a senior.

Although his injury limited his effectiveness in the Fiesta Bowl, his decorated career has put him on the NFL’s radar.

With the Scouting Combine on the horizon, he is a 2nd-3rd round projection in the upcoming NFL Draft, per NFL.com.

Pettis will be a surefire asset at the next level thanks to his skill as a route runner, his great hands, and his ability to elude the first defender, whether that’s on a slant route or a punt return. Although he may not have the size and speed to be a deep ball threat, he benefits from his high football IQ and quick instincts. With all that in mind, let’s take a look at five NFL teams that may want to pick him up.

Seattle Seahawks

We start with a team where Pettis would be an instant fan favorite. The Seahawks boosted their punt return game significantly when they drafted Tyler Lockett back in 2015. But his explosiveness hasn’t been the same ever since he suffered a season-ending leg injury late in the 2016 season. Bringing in Pettis and his elite punt return ability would re-ignite the special teams unit and allow Lockett to focus on offense.

As a receiver, his 6-foot-1 frame fits the typical profile of a Seahawks wide, akin to a Jermaine Kearse. Not only is Pettis a polished route runner, he is also adept at improvising when a play breaks down. And with a quarterback like Russell Wilson who tends to hold the ball for long amounts of time, Pettis would excel in finding open areas of the field for Wilson to throw to.

He is also a capable run blocker, and he proved it opening up lanes on the outside for Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman for three years. Should Pete Carroll seek to continue Seattle’s run-first approach with new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, Pettis would be anything but a liability in the blocking department.

San Francisco 49ers

Now that the Niners house the NFL’s highest paid player in Jimmy Garoppolo, GM John Lynch must give him the weapons he needs. San Francisco’s leading receiver by far last season was Marquise Goodwin, who had 13 plays of 20 yards or more. Pettis could be an immediate plug into the starting lineup and a fantastic option for short and intermediate routes should they pick him in the middle rounds. He also excels near the end zone because he can run the fade route and make the double move.

When the Patriots drafted Garoppolo in 2014, scouts praised the pick, as he is a quick-rhythm passer and his game is tailor-made for a West Coast type of system. Pettis averaged 12.1 yards per catch last season, a sign that he and Garoppolo may fit together perfectly as long as head coach Kyle Shanahan designs an offense that plays to Jimmy G’s strengths.

Pettis has also proven that he is an option for a gadget play. He threw five passes during his career, including a touchdown. This facet of his game could prove valuable should the Niners wish to throw teams off-balance from time to time.

Washington Redskins

With Alex Smith coming in as the new quarterback, Washington’s offensive philosophy will certainly change. Smith is notorious for shunning the deep ball in favor of safer, lower-risk throws and limiting mistakes. Among the receivers on Washington’s roster, Smith will probably gravitate towards the likes of Jamison Crowder and Chris Thompson out of the backfield.

Pettis fits perfectly in this system, as he is used to catching passes at or near the line of scrimmage. He is not as fast as a Crowder or a Thompson, but he has the run-after-catch ability to turn five yards throws into 20 yard gains.

The Redskins were the sixth-worst team in the NFL returning punts last season. Pettis could provide consistent big play potential, and supply Alex Smith’s offense with consistently better field position than Cousins’ offense had last year.

Chicago Bears

It’s no secret that the Bears are in the market for wide receivers. Ever the team lost its best receiver, Alshon Jeffrey, to the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason, the front office has searched for competent weapons for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Cam Meredith tore his ACL in a preseason game last year, and Kevin White has wound up on injured reserve each of his first three seasons in the NFL. This left Trubisky with no real options on the outside, and Chicago finished dead last in the league in net passing yards.

The Bears can start to remedy this issue by spending a draft pick on Pettis. First and foremost, he would provide a reliable target for the young quarterback with his excellent catching ability and crisp route running. He would be a threat in the play action passing game, as the star running back duo of Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen is sure to be the foundation of the Bears’ offense. In the event that the running game isn’t working, Pettis presents a quick option for Trubisky should his protection break down.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have a glaring need for wide receivers. Baltimore’s leading receiver last season was Mike Wallace, who had 748 yards and only four touchdowns. The team’s second leading receiver was 15th-year tight end Ben Watson. These are signals that the Ravens need to add significant amounts of depth and skill to this group. Adding Pettis would be a good start in getting the passing game to compliment Alex Collins and the running game.

Adding to the Ravens needs is the exodus of free agents. To balance their needs with available salary, the Ravens are rumored to considering cutting Jeremy Maclin.  With that in mind, you can expect multiple prospects landing in Baltimore to help the aerial attack. Pettis is ideally suited for the Ravens move-the-chains passing game.

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Quarterback Joe Flacco has a tendency to throw deep and take risks with the football. Pettis has become skilled in tracking the ball down the field due to the nature of some of Jake Browning’s wobbly throws. He could also become one of Flacco’s top options in the short passing game. With Wallace going deep on most plays and fellow veteran Jeremy Maclin taking up the rest of the secondary’s attention, Pettis could find a home in the slot and draw mismatches against linebackers or safeties.