Kyle Pitts is the No. 1 player in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Jeremy Klump
The Jacksonville Jaguars will take former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence No. 1 in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lawrence will give them the franchise quarterback they need, but he isn’t the best player in this draft class. The No. 1 player in the 2021 NFL Draft is former Florida Gators tight end, Kyle Pitts.
Pitts, the John Mackey Award winner, which honors the best tight end in college football, is arguably the best tight end prospect to ever enter the NFL Draft. His rare blend of size, strength, speed, and versatility makes him an intriguing option on any team in the NFL.
He stands at 6-6, weighs in at 246 pounds, but he runs routes like a No. 1 WR. And some have even said he should be treated as a receiver.
However, Pitts is a tight end in my eyes and a rare one. If you look at players like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Darren Waller, you see how transcendent their talent is as versatile tight ends that can make plays for an offense. You see how it can open up your offense and create mismatches.
Pitts is the biggest mismatch to enter the NFL since Calvin Johnson was drafted No. 2 overall by the Detroit Lions. In my scouting report of Pitts, I compared him to Johnson, as Pitts has the dominant, alpha-like traits that Johnson had.
You can put a corner on him one-on-one, but he will likely beat you every time. Pitts dominated SEC No. 1 cornerbacks. I am talking about cornerbacks that will be 1st round picks and will be expected to cover No. 1 receiver in the NFL. Those guys couldn’t cover Pitts.
You’re also wasting your time putting a linebacker or a safety on him because they have no shot at matching up with him. He’s too fast and too quick for them. Pitts has also shown that, like Johnson, even if you double him, he still has a chance to make plays.
Pitts will be the ultimate mismatch in the NFL and will give defensive coordinators nightmares trying to contain him. A creative offensive coordinator will use Pitts like a chess piece and have him lined up all over the field to put extra stress on the defense.
The quarterbacks always get valued higher in the draft because of the importance of the position, but that doesn’t mean they are the best players. If you had to bet your life savings on which player will have the best NFL career out of any player in the draft, you should gamble on Pitts. He will not be the No. 1 pick, but Kyle Pitts is the No. 1 player in the 2021 NFL Draft.