Florida’s offensive struggles over the last decade are best evidenced by its output into the NFL (or lack thereof). UF hasn’t had an offensive skill position player drafted in the first round since Tim Tebow in 2010.
That’s going to change this year, though. It shouldn’t be surprising that UF’s record-setting 2020 offense has NFL teams paying attention, and in his preliminary first-round mock draft, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper has two Florida pass-catchers in his first 32 picks.
Gators tight end Kyle Pitts was almost universally considered to be the best player at his position in college football this year. He cracked the top-10 in Heisman voting (making him the first tight end to do so since 1977), and he could push to be a top-10 selection in April’s draft.
Right now, Kiper predicts that Pitts will fall just outside the top 10, predicting that the New York Giants will select him with the 11th overall pick.
11. New York Giants
Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Quarterback Daniel Jones cut down on his turnovers and showed some improvement in Year 2, but he still averaged only 6.6 yards per attempt. Even when he gets time to throw in the pocket, he doesn’t have a consistent downfield threat (though Darius Slayton was a nice fifth-round find in 2019). At 6-foot-6, Pitts has the size/speed traits to line up out wide, in the slot or next to an offensive tackle. And he showed off his ability after the catch by averaging 17.9 yards per reception with 12 touchdowns. Pitts is not a traditional tight end, but he’s a skilled offensive threat. And with Evan Engram on the roster, too, the Giants would have two of the most athletic — and versatile — tight ends in football.
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