NFL Scouting Report: TE Kyle Pitts (Florida)

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Physical Tools, College Game Film, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

Bio

Pos: TE

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

School: Florida

Class: Junior

DOB: 10/26/2000 (20)

Height: 6’5″ (85%) | Weight: 245 lbs (24%)

Hands: 10.63” (95%) | Arms: 33.5” (75%)

Bench: 22 reps (69%) | 40-YD: 4.44s (99%)

Interesting Facts

Incredible size (6’5″, 245 lbs), length (33.5″ arms), and athleticism (4.44s 40-YD)
83.38″ wingspan — longest of any WR/TE since 1999
12 REC TD & 11 contested REC both ranked 3rd in 2020
2x 1st-Team All-SEC, John Mackey Award, unanimous All-American (2020)
Played both TE and DE during High School in Abington, PA

Physical Tools

Pros

Terrific frame — 6’5 5/8″, 245 pounds
Big hands (10.63″) and long arms (33.5″)
Longest wingspan of any WR/TE since 1999 (83.38″)
Top-notch burst and agility for his size
Outstanding hip flexibility
WR-caliber athlete (4.44s 40-YD)
Surprisingly stout upper-body (22 bench reps)

Cons

None

Grade: A+

Game Film

Pros

Displays his power at the LOS and throughout his route
Surprisingly nuanced route-runner
Cuts and sinks hips into his breaks like a WR
Length and strength to dominate the catch point
Impressive body control and positioning
Tracks deep balls with great efficiency
Flexed out wide consistently, drawing a variety of defenders
Consistently beat man coverage against LBs, CBs, and Safeties

Cons

Blocking improved, but anchor strength is lacking
Will likely struggle blocking NFL-sized DL/EDGE

Grade: A

Production

Pros

2x 1st-Team All-SEC, John Mackey Award, unanimous All-American (2020)
12 REC TD in 2020 ranked T-3rd in FBS, 2nd in SEC (DeVonta Smith)
Ridiculous production at all levels of the field (89+ PFF grade)
Increased yardage & TD output with fewer REC and nearly half as many snaps
0 drops over 63 targets, 3rd-most contested catches (11/19)
10 RECs, 331 yards, 5 TDs on 20+ yard throws (1st)
Incredible 4.91 yards per route run against man coverage (3rd among all players)
Forced 5 missed tackles (T-9th among TEs)

Cons

Just an average blocker at best (65.8 grade)
Only 1 year of top-tier elite production

Grade: A

Risk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3McIVfth5E

Pros

Outstanding athleticism with a unique skillset
Dominated top-level competition in the SEC
Early 1st-round talent as a WR, let alone a TE
Absolute beast on 50/50 balls
Elite pass-catcher & route-runner for the position
Didn’t drop a single ball in 2020
Will be a matchup nightmare on day 1
Drastic improvement from 2019 (70.0 overall grade to 96.2)
Decent experience from the slot (20% of career snaps)

Cons

May struggle as an in-line blocker early on
Missed 2 games in 2020 due to a concussion & surgery on his nose

Grade: A

Overall

As the TE position continues to evolve from being just a leaner blocker that can catch into a matchup nightmare that can flex into the slot, it was inevitable that a talent such as Pitts would eventually come along. Exploding alongside QB Kyle Trask and WR Kadarius Toney, Kyle Pitts turned in one of the single-greatest TE seasons in FBS history, hauling in 43 of 65 targets (no drops) for nearly 18 YPC and 12 TD.

A weapon at every level of the field, Pitts dominated each LB, CB, and S that attempted to cover him with either speed, length, strength, and/or quickness. Arguably the most athletic TE to come out in recent history (maybe ever?), it’d be foolish to slot Pitts into a traditional in-line TE role. He improved as a run-blocker, but those previous struggles will likely resurface against bigger, stronger, faster DL.

There wasn’t a defender in college that could even think of covering him one-on-one, however, and his athletic profile certainly suggests an incredibly high ceiling as a pass-catcher. Pitts won’t be the first hybrid WR/TE to emerge in the pass-happy, modern day NFL, but he could very well develop into one of the most matchup-proof offensive weapons in the league sooner than later.

Pro Comp: TE Darren Waller (Las Vegas Raiders)

Projected Round: Top-10 Pick

Prime Destinations: ATL, CIN, MIA, DET, CAR, DAL

OVERALL Grade: A