Florida’s tight end Kyle Pitts has the potential to be great, but could the Carolina Panthers take him at No. 8 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft?
The upcoming NFL Draft is a critical one for the Carolina Panthers. They have much work to do in order to make the necessary strides en route to becoming a Super Bowl challenger once again and with little in the way of financial resources available due to the salary-cap decreasing, it makes picking the right college recruits even more important this offseason.
Head coach Matt Rhule will be aided during the assessment process by new general manager Scott Fitterer, who has a strong reputation from a scouting point of view from his time with the Seattle Seahawks. Both figures are currently examining some top prospects first-hand at the 2021 Senior Bowl, which is sure to provide some invaluable information ahead of the all-important draft weekend.
One player who isn’t part of the event in Mobile, Alabama, but comes with some exceptional promise is Kyle Pitts.
The Florida standout is comfortably the best tight end in this year’s class and has the scope to be the NFL’s next great pass-catching player at the position providing his transition to the pros is a smooth one.
The Carolina Panthers have a need at TE.
This is an area of considerable need for the Panthers. Greg Olsen parted ways with the organization during the free agency period last year and has subsequently retired and to say Ian Thomas failed to secure the No. 1 role long-term would be something of an understatement.
This leaves Carolina with no other alternative than to explore different options this offseason. Whether this comes in free agency or the draft remains to be seen, but not having a reliable presence across the middle is something that really hurt the Panthers at critical moments during the campaign.
Kyle Pitts scouting report
- Height: 6-foot-6
- Weight: 239 pounds
It’s hard to look at the way Kyle Pitts performs on the field and not be impressed. He is a supremely gifted athlete that represents a real matchup problem for either slot cornerbacks or outside linebackers and is easily one of the better prospects entering the league this year.
Pitts moves like an accomplished wide receiver and his impressive ability to catch the football at its highest point is another standout feature of his game. His physicality enables the tight end to catch across the middle with ease and his polished route-running makes him a dynamic weapon that will be a hot commodity during the evaluation process.
His level of production in 2020 only heightened anticipation regarding his arrival at the next level. Pitts recorded 43 receptions, 770 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns from just eight games, which is further proof of what a special talent he is.
Another bonus from Pitts’ perspective is his contribution in run blocking, which is better than you’d think for someone who’s more of a weapon in the passing game.
There is nothing a team couldn’t do with Pitts from a scheme standpoint on offense. So whoever is fortunate enough to acquire him in the first round is going to be getting a truly outstanding prospect who might even have an All-Pro ceiling with a smooth adjustment.
How Pitts would fit on the Carolina Panthers
Although the need for reinforcements elsewhere is substantial, the Carolina Panthers would benefit greatly from selecting Kyle Pitts at No. 8 overall.
Adding the Florida prospect to a loaded offense that includes D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Christian McCaffrey would be a mouth-watering proposition and one that could open up the playbook even more in Joe Brady’s second season as an NFL coordinator.
Brady utilized tight ends heavily during his time as LSU’s passing coordinator, something that brought some considerable success on their way to a National Championship in 2019. Not using Ian Thomas or Chris Manhertz much at all is a damning indictment of the coaching staff’s lack of confidence in the duo, but taking Pitts would change all that in an instant.
Simply put, there is nothing Pitts cannot do on the field.
Carolina does need a long-term solution at quarterback and there is also the offensive line uncertainty to consider. But if the tight end is there as expected, then the decision-makers will deliberate long and hard about bringing him on board.
Much will depend on how the draft plays out. There is every chance the top four quarterback prospects will be gone by the time Carolina is on the clock and new general manager Scott Fitterer made no secret of his desire to accumulate more picks should the opportunity present itself.
4 Panthers players who should be easy cuts this offseason
There are plenty of big decisions for the Carolina Panthers during the 2021 offseason, but cutting these five players should be easy.
Drafting a sure thing is hard to do. But Pitts is as close as it gets and could end up being one of the best in the business with the right organization providing his superb talent is used correctly.