2021 NFL Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year
By Randy Gurzi
Grading every rookie from the 2021 NFL Draft: Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
2021 Stats:
- 68 Receptions
- 1,026 Yards
- 1 TD
It’s not often a tight end can find himself being selected in the top five but it’s also not normal for a player at the position to be as dominant as Kyle Pitts. The Florida prospect is basically a wideout in a tight end’s body and he was insanely good in year one.
Tight ends don’t often take off as rookies since it’s one of the toughest positions for players to make the transition to the pros but Pitts was electric with 1,026 yards — and turned out to be the lone bright spot on an abysmal passing offense.
If there was any knock on his first season, it would have to be the fact that he had only one touchdown. But that might not be all on Pitts.
One issue was the fact that the Falcons offense had no other weapons to speak of, which meant defenses could really close in on Pitts in the red zone. Another problem was that Matt Ryan has historically had issues with getting the ball to his best players in the end zone, evidenced by Julio Jones never really being among the best players in the NFL at hauling in touchdown catches.
That might not change with Marcus Mariota under center now but Pitts is still already one of the best tight ends in the NFL and will only get better.
Grade: A