Kyle Pitts 2021 NFL Draft Overview
Position: Tight End
Height: 6’-5”
Weight: 235 pounds
School: Florida
2021 NFL Draft: Kyle Pitts Player Profile
After three years at Florida, tight end Kyle Pitts is eschewing his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft. Unanimously considered the best tight end in his class, the Pennsylvania native finished the 2020 season with 43 receptions on 65 targets for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Pitts initially entered the college football world as a four-star recruit out of Archbishop High School. The state champion had no shortage of suitors, as he received over 20 scholarship offers coming out of high school. He eventually committed to Florida, but he didn’t do much as a freshman.
Playing in 119 snaps, Pitts finished his freshman season with three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. Pitts broke out as a sophomore, establishing himself as one of the best tight ends in the nation. Playing a career-high 708 snaps, the tight end ended the year with 54 receptions on 80 targets for 649 yards and five touchdowns.
Strengths
- Nearly unparalleled receiving skillset from a college tight end;
- Runs incredibly smooth routes and can get open against linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks;
- Plays in-line and in the slot;
- Catches everything thrown within his zip code;
- Didn’t drop a single pass in 2020;
- 92nd percentile dominator, 95th percentile breakout age;
- Young player that could improve with age.
Weaknesses
- Only an average blocker, although this could improve with time;
- Good, but not great speed – won’t be able to blow past NFL defensive backs;
- Not quite as good at contested catches as you’d expect;
- Definitely more of a receiver than a traditional tight end;
- He’s not your typical tight end and won’t live up to his potential if coaches don’t adjust to his unique skill set.
NFL Comparison: Darren Waller
Teams With Need at Position: Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens,
Projection: Top 10 pick
Bottom Line on Kyle Pitts
Kyle Pitts is the best tight end prospect to grace the NFL in a long, long time. Truly elite receiving tight ends are the ultimate mismatch in today’s NFL, and Pitts has the potential to join the ranks of Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Darren Waller in the NFL. He moves like a receiver, has unbelievable hands, and catches anything thrown remotely near his area. Tight end is one of the hardest positions to learn, and the fact he did all this before being legally able to drink a true testament to his unmatched talent.
Each and every last one of these profiles has to point out some weaknesses, as there is no such thing as a “perfect” NFL Draft prospect. However, with Pitts, finding those weaknesses is incredibly difficult. He’s not an elite blocker by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s not a liability. It’s also worth noting that he improved as a blocker in 2020, and he is young, so there is a possibility he improves this aspect of his game in time.
This relative weakness could lead to a disappointing NFL career if Pitts is selected by an uncreative coach. The old adage states that tight ends are blockers first and receivers second, and Pitts won’t live up to his potential in that type of role. However, if he lands with a smart coaching staff, then the sky is the limit for the Florida product.
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