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Should the Atlanta Falcons draft Kyle Pitts in the 2021 NFL Draft?

By Jeremy Klump

Dec 19, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts (84) catches the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Brian Branch (14) during the first quarter in the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts (84) catches the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Brian Branch (14) during the first quarter in the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2021 NFL Draft starts with the Atlanta Falcons with the fourth overall pick. The first three picks will all be quarterback, and you can write it down in sharpie. That is why when Atlanta is on the clock on April 29, 2021, all the fun will begin. The Falcons could also take a quarterback and make it four straight quarterbacks to start the draft. However, they could also take the No. 1 player in the 2021 NFL Draft, tight end Kyle Pitts.

Pitts is a unique, rare prospect at the tight end position. The former Florida Gator won the John Mackey award in 2020, honoring the best tight end in college football. Pitts was unquestionably the best tight end in college football, and he may also be the best tight end prospect to ever enter the NFL Draft.

There has never been, and there will never be another tight end prospect like Pitts. He has a rare combination of size and speed. He stands 6-6 and weighs around 250 pounds. He ran a blazing 4.44 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, which may seem fake, but as Warren Sharp pointed out, Florida Pro Day 40 times are actually usually slower than the NFL Combine.

Pitts did not drop a pass for Florida along with his size and speed, and he runs routes like a wide receiver. Many people will mention that maybe he isn’t a tight end and can be an outside receiver, but Pitts lined up in-line at tight end on 63.81% of his snaps, so he is a tight end. For a comparison, Travis Kelce, the best tight end in the NFL, lined up in-line at tight end on only 43.89% of his snaps, according to Bleeding Green Nation.

That is why any team that doesn’t need a quarterback would be silly to pass on him, as he is, without a doubt, the best non-quarterback in the draft for many big-time analysts.

Does Atlanta need a quarterback, or should they take Kyle Pitts?

This is a fascinating question and one I am sure the Falcons do not truly have an answer for yet. The Falcons could draft a quarterback to sit behind former NFL MVP and Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Ryan for a year or two. Ryan will be 36 in May, but he did have 4,581 yards and 26 touchdowns last season.

If Atlanta, with first-year head coach Arthur Smith, believes in Ryan, taking Pitts is a no-brainer.

Some casual fans say Atlanta doesn’t need a tight end because they already have tight end, Hayden Hurst. Well, that is only another reason Atlanta would take Pitts in my eyes, as Smith was the offensive coordinator in Tennessee last season and ran the most 12 personnel in the NFL (35%), according to SharpFootballStats.com.

Pairing Pitts with Hurst would give Atlanta a dominant 12 personnel, and oh yeah, did I mention they also have Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley at wide receiver? Good luck defending that offense, mainly because I am still a believer in Ryan.

I am sure many people will say that the Falcons defense stinks and they need help there, and you aren’t wrong. But, they have six other rounds in the 2021 NFL Draft to fill other holes. They will never have another chance to add a player like Pitts.

So, the answer is pretty simple. The Atlanta Falcons should 100% draft Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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