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2021 NFL Draft: Kyle Pitts may just be the weapon SF 49ers need

By Jeremy Wohlfart

Kyle Pitts #84 of the Florida Gators (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Kyle Pitts #84 of the Florida Gators (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Pitts, Florida Gator, SF 49ers
Kyle Pitts #84 of the Florida Gators (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

The talented Florida tight end, Kyle Pitts, could form a potent tandem with SF 49ers tight end George Kittle.

While the playoffs are well and truly underway, the SF 49ers are instead getting ready for both free agency and the NFL Draft as they look to move on from a disappointing 2020.

One player who could strike interest is Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, a prospect who doesn’t seem the most logical choice in the world given the team has star player George Kittle there.

But if you look more at San Francisco’s offense, the philosophy of head coach Kyle Shanahan and exactly what Pitts brings to an offense then you get a prospect that looks more than a logical fit for the team.

He looks like the perfect prospect.

Pitts is the ultimate mismatch weapon in the vein of Kittle. You can put him as tight end, a flanker, a slot, as an X receiver, essentially anything you want. His speed and receiving ability, combined with his size, make him one of those breeds of tight end that’s too fast for a linebacker and too big for a defensive back.

And he has the talent to exploit it.

Let’s take a look at Pitts, and how he fits into the SF 49ers scheme.

College career

Put simply, Pitts has been a weapon for Florida for both his junior and sophomore seasons. If not for the insane receiving corps Alabama possesses, you could argue he was the best receiving weapon in the SEC.

Pitts had 43 receptions for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns for Florida this season in only eight games, following up a strong 2019 season where he had 54 receptions for 649 yards and five touchdowns.

In short, college defenses just had nobody to match up on him. Pitts has the size and strength to bully defensive backs as well as the speed to blow right by linebackers.

Florida leaned on him heavily in the COVID-affected 2020 season, and he was a major reason why Florida was able to make a comeback in the SEC Championship game before ultimately falling just short.

This was a big tick for Pitts, who’s someone who doesn’t pad his stats with strong games versus cupcake opposition. He shows up in the big games and doesn’t shy from the big stage.