At this point, it seems it would be a mild upset if former Florida tight end Kyle Pitts fell out off the first 10 picks in the upcoming NFL draft. Almost all mock drafts show him off the board by then, with some even projecting a historic draft spot in the top five.
This latest mock from Sports Illustrated’s Jenny Vrentas is no different. She projects Pitts to go with the sixth pick in the draft to the Miami Dolphins. Miami originally picked at third, as well, before trading that selection to the 49ers. It was thought that they could take a pass-catcher with that pick, such as Ja’Marr Chase or Pitts. So if the latter fell in their lap at sixth anyway, it would certainly be a major win.
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In the same year Belichick spent close to $90 million in free agency on a pair of tight ends, Pitts stands to be drafted uncommonly high for his position. The last tight end to be drafted sixth was Vernon Davis in 2006—and it’s possible Pitts will go even higher than this slot. After moving down to No. 12, Miami came back up to No. 6 for a playmaker for second-year QB Tua Tagovailoa. Pitts is a versatile offensive weapon made for today’s NFL, capable of lining up in-line, in the slot or split out as an X receiver. In just eight games last season for the Gators, Pitts pulled down 12 TDs—amounting to one score every four catches. Pitts would pair with Mike Gesicki for a formidable two-tight end set, like those favored by Brian Flores’s former team in Foxboro.
Pitts would join an already-decent receiving group that includes Will Fuller and Devante Parker, and though they already have Gesicki on the roster, that shouldn’t stop them from taking Pitts if given the chance.
No other Florida players appear in this mock draft. Kadarius Toney is the Gators’ best chance of having two players selected in the first round, and though he’s most commonly projected to go in the latter half of the first 32 picks, some mock drafts (like this one) have him falling out of the first round.
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