Kyle Pitts Already Ranked as Top 5 Tight End in NFL
By Peter Dewey
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was the first non-quarterback taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he’s already soaring up the rankings for the best tight end in football.
Pitts, the No. 4 overall pick, was ranked as the No. 4 tight end in football before he’s even played a snap in the NFL by ProFootballFocus’ Ben Linsey. Only Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Darren Waller were ranked ahead of the rookie.
“This may be early for a player who has yet to take an NFL snap, but it’s a reflection of the caliber of prospect Pitts is coming out of Florida,” Linsey wrote. “He’s just different.
“Pitts has an absurd catch radius at 6-foot-6 with 33.5-inch arms, and he pairs that frame with high-end speed and rare cutting ability at his size. Those measurables helped lead to a 96.1 receiving grade this past season at Florida. The Falcons’ decision to pair him with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley in Arthur Smith’s new offense poses a difficult challenge for defensive coordinators in the NFC South.”
Vegas is high on Pitts as well. WynnBET has given him +1000 odds to be named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year this coming season. Pitts is the highest non-quarterback on WynnBET for ROTY and isn’t far behind Trey Lance (+700) or Zach Wilson (+700).
The University of Florida product had a monster season in 2020, catching 43 passes for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games. If he can put up double-digit scores in the NFL’s 17-game season, there is a good chance he will remain among the league’s top tight ends by the end of the season.
Pitts should get plenty of opportunities in the Falcons’ offense this season with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley drawing a lot of attention on the outside. Atlanta finished with a 4-12 record last season, but WynnBET predicts that their exact win total in 2021 will be seven (+400).
Seven wins will not be enough to make the playoffs, but if Pitts lives up to the hype it is possible that Atlanta smashes that projection and makes a run at the NFC South crown this year.