The 2021 NFL draft is over a month away and fans and experts alike are still trying to figure out what the Falcons will do with their No. 4 selection. Atlanta is the only team picking in the top five without a clear need at the quarterback position.
In a new Pro Football Focus mock draft, Seth Galina projects the Falcons to draft Florida’s generational tight end, Kyle Pitts. Galina’s logic here is that if the team is going to pass on a quarterback, the best value on the board at pick No. 4 is likely to be Pitts.
“The Falcons are in a weird spot, and we’re going to learn a lot about how they perceive themselves in this draft. The team will signal the transition away from the Matt Ryan era if they select a QB here. If not, they probably believe they have the roster to compete if some things break their way in 2021. They could take a linebacker like Micah Parsons, but one linebacker isn’t going to turn things around single-handedly. The fourth overall pick is also too high to draft a linebacker. If it’s not a quarterback, then give Ryan another weapon — that’s Kyle Pitts.”
Through eight games in 2020, Pitts posted nearly 800 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. Pitts would give the Falcons an obvious mismatch and give Matt Ryan a pivotal red zone weapon. Atlanta has struggled in the red zone over the past two seasons and new head coach Arthur Smith is a former tight ends coach.
Adding another pass-catching tight end the caliber of Pitts to the mix would potentially give the Falcons one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL next season.
[lawrence-related id=67330,67211,67392]
[listicle id=67181]