NFL Draft: 4 tight end prospects SF 49ers may target in 2021

SF 49ers Tight End Target No. 1: Kyle Pitts, Florida

As far as the 2021 NFL Draft class goes at tight end, there’s Florida’s Kyle Pitts and then there’s everybody else.

Some would argue Pitts might be the best pure pass-catcher in this year’s draft, and that includes a pretty deep crop of wide receivers, many of whom will end up being selected in Round 1. At 6-foot-6 and 246 pounds, Pitts has amazing hands and a wide catch radius to make him a mismatch nightmare based on his frame alone. But what makes him truly scary is his ability to get to his next-level speed while creating separation with some savvy route-running skills.

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As far as “positionless” goes, Pitts is the perfect hybrid of an elite wide receiver/tight end.

Now, it’s somewhat hard to fathom the SF 49ers targeting a player like Pitts in Round 1 even if he does fall to No. 12 overall. With pressing needs at cornerback, likely along the offensive line and potentially at quarterback, grabbing Pitts when the team already has George Kittle and two promising young wide receivers in Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel seems like a luxury the Niners simply can’t afford.

But there’s a sound argument for it anyway, and there’s little doubting Pitts would give Kyle Shanahan an embarrassment of riches on offense.

Right now, Pitts should be viewed as nothing more than a dark-horse candidate for San Francisco’s top pick in the draft.

If selected at No. 12, though, fans would certainly be enamored with him nonetheless.