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Only one tight end has ever been drafted with the first overall pick, and that was Billy Cannon all the way back in 1960. Since the modern era began in 1970, only one tight end has been taken in the top five: Riley Odoms, who went fifth overall in 1972.
With mock drafts frequently showing former Gators tight end Kyle Pitts being taken by Atlanta with the fourth overall pick, he has the chance to be the highest player drafted at the position in the modern history of the league. And for good reason, as well. He was practically impossible to match up against in college given his size and speed, and with the tight end becoming an increasingly valuable position, NFL general managers are salivating at the thought of landing Pitts.
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If the Falcons are going to make history by selecting Pitts, though, it means that they will have to pass on a quarterback at No. 4, which is certainly an option for a team with an aging veteran on a big contract. Sports Illustrated Albert Breer discussed the possibility of the Falcons drafting Pitts and what it would take to make it happen in his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column.
Lots of teams think the Falcons are going to sit where they are and take Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, and really for two reasons. One, the asking price for a team to get up to No. 4 is high, as you’d expect it would be after what the Dolphins got for the third pick. Two, it’s been pointed out by a few people how the Matt Ryan contract restructure makes it more difficult for the Falcons to move on from him not just this year, but next year too—and how if they were looking to set up a quarterback transition, they’d be more likely to take their cap medicine now. So yes, Atlanta’s looked very hard at all the quarterbacks, and the Falcons are among a small group of teams to have multiple people at both pro days for both Fields and Lance. If I had to guess, this may well come down to which quarterback falls to them and how that quarterback compares to Pitts.
If the 49ers, who traded up with Miami for the third overall pick, decide to draft a quarterback like Mac Jones, it’s hard to imagine the Falcons would pass on Justin Fields with the fourth pick. With that being said, Pitts is arguably the top player in this class outside of Trevor Lawrence, and he’d provide an immediate boost to whoever takes him.
If the Falcons decide to pass on the fourth quarterback available, landing Pitts would give it one of the league’s top receiving corps.
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