DFF Draft Coverage: Kyle Pitts to the Falcons

KYLE PITTS | FLORIDA                   6’5” 246 lbs.                  1/26/1999 (Age 22)

Kyle Pitts was drafted 4th overall by the Atlanta Falcons as the first pass catcher and tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

Had Florida played 12 games this season, the John Mackey winner would have given us a season for the ages. Taking what he did over the first 8 games and doing simple math would have given him 64 catches for 1,155 yards and 18 TDs. His adjusted performance index would skyrocket to the 95th percentile of all college receivers, not just tight ends, since 2000.

The only red flag is his blocking. He has excellent foot speed to get in front of pass rushers but poor run blocking will affect his fantasy output from inside the 10-yard line. Thankfully, he is only 20 and will grow under Arthur Smith and the Atlanta Falcons.

ATHLETIC TESTING

At his Pro Day, Kyle Pitts measured just under 6’6” and 246 lbs, giving him a BMI of 28.58. His best 40-yard dash time was 4.44-seconds which equates to a 126-Speed Score, and at 6’5” that is a 129-Height Adjusted Speed Score, both figures are in the top 99th percentile across all offensive skill positions. If that doesn’t impress you, just turn on the tape from this past year where he made defenses look clueless and Kyle Trask a potential NFL starting quarterback.

Pitts displayed his strength with 22 bench reps of 225 pounds which is amazing for someone with sub-4.6 speed. He backed that up with a solid 33” in the vertical and 129” in the broad jump. Pitts tonight became the highest tight end EVER drafted in the NFL. 

Kyle had an average three-cone speed of 7.12-seconds and a short shuttle of 4.3-seconds, which raised eyebrows for people who expected him to translate his 40-yard time to these drills.

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Excellent

Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Excellent

Pitts was selected with the 4th-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

FANTASY INSIGHTS

Pitts will be a cheat code for QB Matt Ryan and the Falcons. He is the obvious TE1 in this rookie class and is in a tier of his own. Pitts is a top-five dynasty tight end before playing a snap, however, temper your expectations for year one. He will be solid, but once he hits year three or four, barring some issue is when he will become the TE1. This offense is going to explode with Pitts, Ridley, and Julio coming out to terrorize defenses.

Pitts has a valid argument to be the 1.01 pick in all dynasty league types based upon your team’s need. His pass-catching already makes him an impact player come Week 1; add in the fact he is only 20 years old takes him to the vaunted elite-level potential. There are outlying factors that may prevent this, but the odds are in his favor of being a force for a decade. If you do not need a quarterback in dynasty, take him and do not look back.

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