Falcons snag Kyle Pitts at No. 4

The Atlanta Falcons selected tight end Kyle Pitts out of Florida fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Pitts is the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history and the position's first prospect to be selected in the top 5 since 1972.

The former Gators standout entered the draft as the top option for teams looking to boost their receiving unit. He racked up 43 receptions for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns through eight games last season.

Pitts is the first selection made by new Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, who served as the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator over the last two seasons.

Atlanta has one of the NFL's deepest receiving corps, highlighted by Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. The Falcons also traded for tight end Hayden Hurst last year. Selected 25th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018, Hurst caught 56 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns in his first year with Atlanta.

Draft profile Collegiate Images / Collegiate Images / Getty

Key stats: 43 receptions, 770 yards, 12 touchdowns, 17.9 YPC

A true unicorn of the 2021 draft class, Pitts is as exciting a tight end prospect as you'll ever see. The Florida product dominated stingy SEC competition on a weekly basis last season thanks to explosive route-running, rare body control, and high football IQ, even winning one-on-one matchups against starting cornerbacks. There's no reason to think his success won't continue in the pros; he's an excellent athlete and already has many nuances of the position down pat. We're not worried about his blocking skills or that tight ends often take time to develop in the NFL, because Pitts is different. He'll be a top-tier player in no time.

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