Patriots: 3 perfect draft targets for Pats’ first-round pick

2. Kyle Pitts

Florida TE Kyle Pitts will make an immediate impact as an NFL rookie in 2021.

We’ve been loud advocates of the Patriots pulling off a blockbuster trade with the Eagles to acquire tight end Zach Ertz in the offseason, but the prospect of making a significant upgrade at the position without unloading resources sounds a lot more appealing (and realistic) given their polarizing tendency to not overspend.

Enter Florida stud Kyle Pitts, who seemingly becomes more beloved in draft circles with each passing week. Through six games, he’s on pace to shatter the career numbers he posted as a sophomore in 2019 despite missing time with a concussion. For the season, the Gators star has compiled 29 receptions for 511 yards (17.7 YPR) and 11 touchdowns, the latter of which ranks second in the nation.

At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds (!) to go with other jaw-dropping physical attributes, Pitts has all the tools at his disposal to make an impact in the NFL from the jump, and that’s an extreme rarity for rookies at the tight end position. As we’ve seen over the years at Florida, he’s also more than comfortable lining up in the slot in certain designs.

What’s even more reassuring is the fact that Pitts responded to concerns about his weight by slimming down and getting shredded in the offseason, which really threw cold water on questions about his commitment to football.

We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but he looks a lot like the second coming of Raiders world-beater Darren Waller. If he’s available by the time the Patriots are on the clock, they really shouldn’t think twice about nabbing him.