Kyle Pitts NFL Draft scouting report and fantasy football profile

The superlatives surrounding Kyle Pitts are vast and accurate. He is a top wide receiver in a tight end’s body. He does open up an offense in more ways than about any player in this draft. Pitts, like most college tight ends, didn’t get used like a top-end NFL tight end, but he still put up great numbers, as he caught 43 passes for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just 7.5 games last season.

Scouting Report

Pitts put up some crazy numbers at his pro day, as he ran a 4.44 40 at 6’6” 245 pounds while hitting a 33½-inch vertical, 10’ 9” in the broad jump and managing 22 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press. Maybe most impressive was his 83+ inch wingspan.

His speed, size and athleticism make him a rare player. Even at 245 pounds he looks like a wide receiver out there running fluid routes and making spectacular catches with his long arms. He can be knocked for his blocking, but he’ll get better in that area and teams are drafting him as an offensive weapon first and foremost.

What scouts are saying

Kyle Pitts measures in at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, but he moves with the grace and the suddenness of a wide receiver, not a tight end. He has excellent change-of-direction skills, and he also shows impressive nuance with his route running. His explosiveness out of breaks is also top-tier for his position, allowing him to generate ample separation against linebackers. — Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline

Mock Draft landing spots

Pitts is a Top 5 talent, but like all other non-quarterbacks, he’ll take a back seat to signal callers at the tippy top of the draft. Realistically, Pitts could go to any team after pick three, even if they have a good starting tight end already.

But with the Carolina Panthers trading for Sam Darnold, they’ve shifted to the consensus landing spot for Pitts at pick No. 8. What the Atlanta Falcons end up doing will be key, as they could go with Pitts, a quarterback, or trade back to a team desperate for a quarterback.

Fantasy impact: Rookie year

Tight ends are consistent in that they don’t often put up strong numbers their rookie season, but Pitts could easily be an outlier. A team could use him as a mismatch everywhere on the field and not worry about his blocking early on. He would likely be inconsistent, but his offensive outbursts could be fantastic.

Fantasy impact: Career

Pitts has all the tools to be the best tight end in the game. Barring injury he’s a lock to be a good fantasy tight end for a long time, but his upside is off the charts. He’s a player worth taking a risk on with your No. 1 pick in a dynasty rookie draft.