Texans land Kyle Pitts and more in 2021 NFL Mock Draft with a twist
By Brian Emory
Round 1, #12 Overall (from SF): Kyle Pitts, TE/WR, Florida
I am sure this choice will be met with some skepticism. Houston’s defense is currently set to be the league’s worst in 2021. If the team doesn’t draft a quarterback in the first round then surely they have to go defense, right?
Not necessarily. I have already written about how my ideal draft approach is rather simple: trade back and take the best player available. This first selection accomplishes both of those objectives.
Brandin Cooks played very well for Houston last year, but in all likelihood, Will Fuller won’t be returning. The team could use more weapons, especially if they won’t have Watson’s otherworldly playmaking ability back next year.
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts was simply unguardable last season in Gainesville. In eight games, Pitts caught 43 passes for 770 yards and 12 scores. While Pitts will be listed as a tight end, he also frequently lined up as a receiver. There is no reason to think this versatility won’t translate to the NFL.
Pitts has the physical makeup to become one of the league’s most dangerous weapons. He has a rare combination of size and athleticism. Pitts stands at a staggering 6-foot-6 and weighs north of 240 pounds. Not only does Pitts possess an incredible combination of size and athleticism, he also knows how to use it.
Pitts is an extremely intelligent pass catcher. He has an advanced understanding of route running and what it takes to create separation. At the point of the catch, he is downright dominant. Pitts uses his size and length in a way that makes him unguardable. Any offensive coordinator would be oozing to get their hands on Pitts, as he will create all sorts of matchup problems for the defense.
Is this Houston’s greatest need? Probably not. But Pitts strikes me as a rare talent that doesn’t come around very often. For a team that is clearly rebuilding like the Texans, you can not pass up on the opportunity to add a player like Pitts who has the potential to be one of the most deadly weapons in the league for a long time to come.