2021 NFL Mock Draft: Washington Football Team goes offense in Round 1
8. player. 87. . Tight End. Carolina Panthers. Kyle Pitts
Like many of the teams picking in this range, the Panthers need to make a decision. Do they want to select a quarterback like Trey Lance? Or will they take the best available player?
In this case, the best available player wins out. Teddy Bridgewater was solid enough in his first year in Carolina to at least get another chance to start. So, the Panthers can afford to wait on a QB and take a true mismatch weapon at the tight end spot.
Nobody in the SEC could stop Kyle Pitts. Nobody at all. We use the term “matchup nightmare” pretty liberally in football, but a player like Pitts is the true definition of the word.
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Pitts is a great athlete. He’s fast and is a decent route runner. He has an incredible 6-foot-6, 246-pound frame that allows him to win in contested catch battles. Truly, he may never have lost a battle for the ball last year, save for a play on which he got concussed.
In addition to being a great athlete and receiving weapon, Pitts is a strong blocker thanks to his well-built frame. That’s a rarity for tight ends making the jump to the NFL, so Pitts should be more pro-ready than other players coming into the position. He will have a chance to make an impact right away for the Panthers as a pass-catcher and as a blocker for Christian McCaffrey.
Pitts would be a huge upgrade over Ian Thomas and Chris Manhertz, as both of those players mostly block. Pitts would give Bridgewater a third weapon (fourth if Curtis Samuel stays) and would give Matt Rhule the freedom to do a lot of different things on the offensive side of the ball. Containing the Panthers’ offense would be extremely difficult given those skill-position weapons.
If the Panthers don’t commit to Bridgewater or add another quarterback in free agency or via the trade market, Lance will be in play here. If not, Pitts is the best option available. You could make a case for Parsons here, but the team’s offense could be truly unstoppable with Pitts so even though this is a bit earlier than usual for a tight end, it should be totally worth it.