The Falcons bucked historical past and a few standard knowledge by deciding on Kyle Pitts, the explosive tight finish from the College of Florida, with the No. 4 total decide. The current historical past of first-round tight finish investments may have NFL groups, followers and Fantasy managers a bit nervous. These are the TEs chosen within the first spherical of the latest 10 draft lessons: Tyler Eifert (2013), Eric Ebron (2014), O.J. Howard  (2017), Evan Engram (2017), David Njoku (2017), Hayden Hurst (2018), T.J. Hockenson (2019), Noah Fant (2019) — not precisely a assassin’s row of Fantasy manufacturing. 

Extra Fantasy breakdowns

Having stated that, Pitts has a talent set that’s completely completely different from actually each participant on that record and in addition one which interprets to speedy success in at this time’s NFL. In the event you used that very same argument to recommend not utilizing a first-round decide on a QB who performs in a weak defensive convention (say the Large 12) at a faculty that hasn’t produced any big-time QBs (say Texas Tech) — nicely then you definately would’ve dominated out Patrick Mahomes. An vital rule I realized early on was to judge the participant and never the helmet.

We’re breaking down all the pieces you might want to find out about Pitts from a Fantasy supervisor perspective, together with his 2021 affect, Dynasty outlook, measurables, scouting report, key stats and an NFL comparability.

2021 Fantasy Affect

How a lot do you have to care concerning the historical past of rookie tight ends? Here is the complete record of tight ends to have greater than 700 receiving yards as a rookie since 1990: Jeremy Shockey and Evan Engram. That is it. No Rob Gronkowski. No Travis Kelce. Of the tight ends drafted within the highest 10 of the NFL Draft, none of them have completed it both. 

“However Kyle Pitts is completely different,” you may say. And he’s completely different. Unbelievable faculty manufacturing, practically unmatched bodily instruments. He is a particular, particular participant. However … is that that a lot completely different than Vernon Davis? He was picked No. 6 total after placing collectively the most effective mix performances of all time, arguably much more spectacular Pitts’ professional day, and he had simply 265 yards and three touchdowns in 10 video games as a rookie. Level is, it is onerous to hit the bottom operating as a rookie at this place.

That being stated … Kyle Pitts is completely different. Or a minimum of, he might be. And touchdown with the Falcons might give him a greater alternative to hit the bottom operating. Sure, he’ll be behind Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley within the receiving hierarchy, however he should not be any decrease than third, and this may increasingly nonetheless be a group that throws the ball 600-plus instances. Which implies he might get to 100 targets as a rookie. And people targets needs to be very productive with Jones and Ridley hogging consideration. 

I do not wish to get out over my skis … it is onerous to not! He ranks seventh in my first run of projections as a member of the Falcons, and I might see shifting him forward of somebody like Dallas Goedert if Zach Ertz would not get traded. I do not wish to push Pitts too far up my draft board — I in all probability would not draft him within the first six rounds — however he is one of many few tight ends who is usually a distinction maker.

At the same time as a rookie. – Chris Towers

Dynasty outlook

The Dynasty neighborhood is nicely conscious of Pitts’ potential to interrupt the TE mould. He’s presently coming off the board as a mid-first-round decide in rookie Dynasty drafts. I am prone to be a bit larger on Pitts than the neighborhood as an entire and I’ve him as my No. 4 participant total amongst rookies. The easiest way to view Pitts is nearly as a “unicorn” kind prospect on the TE place, and that makes him much more helpful in Dynasty. Now, I do know you have heard that earlier than within the soccer scouting and Fantasy neighborhood — it has not often translated into Fantasy manufacturing. Nonetheless, Pitts is a little bit of a special unicorn for the place. He possesses a variety of translatable receiver abilities and never simply timed 40 velocity like an Evan Engram kind. 

Scouting report

Strengths

• Route operating 
• Toughness, focus on the catch level
• Pure, positive palms
• Elite-level physique management within the air (assume DeAndre Hopkins)
• Wonderful potential to high-point barely off-target throws
• Fluidity, pure athleticism
• Free hips permit him to get out and in of breaks like a WR
• Creates separation vs. CBs in man protection utilizing inventive releases

Issues

• Straight-line velocity — he is not a burner
• He is a prepared blocker, however he has a protracted technique to go in his improvement as an in-line blocker

Stats breakdown

Superior stats to know

• Finest YPC (17.9) of all faculty TEs ever with 40+ receptions, per Wealthy Hribar of Sharp Soccer Evaluation
• 27.9% TD fee — second-best amongst all faculty TEs ever (with 40+ receptions), per Hribar
• 4.91 yards per route run vs. man protection in 2020 — third-best of any participant, practically 2 yards per route run greater than another TE, per PFF

NFL comparability

There isn’t a good comparability for Pitts, however the closest to me can be Raiders TE Darren Waller. Nonetheless, I see just a little little bit of former Giants, Steelers and Jets WR Plaxico Burress in Pitts’ sport too. If he can evolve into something like both participant — or higher but a hybrid combine — he’ll be a superb choice for Fantasy managers.