One of the more intriguing names in the 2021 NFL Draft is local product Kyle Pitts.

He’s an Archbishop Wood graduate who played tight end at Florida, putting up big numbers as a junior in 2020.

The about Pitts is that he’s not really a tight end. He’s more of a hybrid tight end/receiver who can line up anywhere on the field. He can play outside, play in the slot, and run routes off the line.

That’s why Eagles fans should try to get out of the mindset of “we don’t need a tight end,” because that’s not entirely what he is. And with Zach Ertz on the outs, you’d be handing the keys to a guy in Dallas Goedert who has shown some flashes over the years, but perhaps not played at the level expected of a second-round selection.

For starters, Pitts is about 6’6″ and 245 pounds. Ertz was right around 6’5″ and 250. Travis Kelce is 260 and George Kittle is 250 at 6’4″, so that’s the range for elite tight ends, and Pitts is right there.


The best thing about him is that he seems to be a matchup nightmare, and when Florida used him in different spots it stressed the defense to get him covered properly, which is why he went for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns on 43 receptions this year.

Behold, some of the cleanest tape you’ll watch:

My favorite thing about Pitts is that he catches the ball like a receiver. The way he goes up and attacks the ball is something the Eagles haven’t had in a long time, maybe since prime Alshon back in 2017 or 2018. Pitts will elevate, high point, and adjust to grab passes that are low or off to the side. In that clip above, he even lines up wide, runs a slant, and just bodies the smaller defensive back off of him. He’s a great route runner with a ton of athleticism.

There isn’t much downside to his game. He’s a solid blocker, but you wouldn’t confuse him for Nick Boyle in that area. Maybe he could break a few more tackles. That’s about it. The experts don’t list of a lot of “weaknesses” in their profiles.

The biggest question mark, honestly, is his tweener status. His draft position is going to be determined by how teams view him, and while he’s a top-ten talent, most of the clubs in that range obviously have bigger needs. That’s why he initially mocked in the teens early in the draft process, because of the volume of franchises in need or a QB, or Penei Sewell, or a #1 corner.

It’s the same issue the Eagles will face. If one of Ja’Marr Chase or DeVonta Smith is on the board, you’d probably justify taking one of them over Pitts. But if you’re looking at Pitts as a hybrid tweener who can replicate a lot of what Chase does, specifically, then considering him at #6 overall isn’t out of the question. We’re just trying to figure out whether drafting Pitts with Goedert on the roster is redundant, and it may not be. A lot of that depends on how Nick Sirianni approaches the offense, and whether or not he’s a 12-personnel guy.

For fan purposes, we should seriously think about Pitts at #6, or possibly in the 8-12 range if the Eagles move back. He’s really that good, and he’s going to be a fantastic NFL player.