Kyle Pitts did not have to wait long to hear his name called at the NFL Draft, selected fourth overall by the Atlanta Falcons. (Photo: Jordan Herald/UAA Communications)
Gators TE Kyle Pitts Selected No. 4 Overall by Falcons
Thursday, April 29, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Kyle Pitts had a record-breaking career at Florida, setting the school record for most career receiving yards and single-season mark for touchdown receptions by a tight end.
Pitts hasn't played a snap in the NFL and already owns a record after the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
"I've been waiting on that call my whole life,'' Pitts said on ESPN.
Pitts became the highest-drafted tight end in NFL Draft history, eclipsing the honor shared by Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (fifth overall to Chicago in 1961) and former Denver Broncos All-Pro Riley Odoms. In 1972, the Broncos used the fifth overall pick in the draft to select Odoms.
Prior to Pitts, the Gators' highest-drafted tight end was Ben Troupe, who went in the second round (40th overall pick) to the Titans in 2004.
Pitts joins an Atlanta offense led by veteran quarterback Matt Ryan and featuring the talented receiving duo of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley under first-year head coach Arthur Smith, who took over the Falcons in January. Smith was the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator the past two seasons.
As Tuesday's draft approached, most projections had Pitts going to the Falcons. The only players selected ahead of him were Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (No. 1 overall to Jacksonville), BYU quarterback Zach Wilson (Jets) and North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance (49ers).
"He's the ultimate matchup nightmare,'' ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said Thursday night on the draft telecast. "In a league predicated on winning matchups, he's the prototype. As a former defensive back, I would be scared to death to cover this guy."
Pitts became the 52nd first-round pick for the Gators in the modern draft era (since 1967), which ranks second in the Southeastern Conference behind Alabama. Pitts is just the fifth tight end in the last 25 drafts to be selected in the first 10 picks.
A four-star recruit out of Archbishop (Pa.) High in the metro Philadelphia area, Pitts' breakout season came as a sophomore when he hauled in 54 passes for 469 yards and five scores. Pitts exploded as a junior, finishing with 43 receptions, 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight and a half games. Pitts skipped the Gators' Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma and declared for the NFL Draft, projected immediately as a first-round pick.
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Pitts was named the John Mackey Award winner (nation's top tight end) and a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, earning a brick outside the team's football offices.
"I'm going to tell you," Mullen said prior to the draft, "when you're in the meeting room and you're designing a game plan, he's awful fun to have and to have that little spot that you can go put up on the board and say, 'That's him and how are we going to move him around?' "
Now it's the Falcons' turn.
Pitts hasn't played a snap in the NFL and already owns a record after the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
"I've been waiting on that call my whole life,'' Pitts said on ESPN.
The 'Unicorn' @kylepitts__ is on the red carpet! #GatorMade
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 29, 2021
2021 #NFLDraft April 29 – May 1 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/4zi8CJGbY9
Pitts became the highest-drafted tight end in NFL Draft history, eclipsing the honor shared by Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (fifth overall to Chicago in 1961) and former Denver Broncos All-Pro Riley Odoms. In 1972, the Broncos used the fifth overall pick in the draft to select Odoms.
Prior to Pitts, the Gators' highest-drafted tight end was Ben Troupe, who went in the second round (40th overall pick) to the Titans in 2004.
Pitts joins an Atlanta offense led by veteran quarterback Matt Ryan and featuring the talented receiving duo of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley under first-year head coach Arthur Smith, who took over the Falcons in January. Smith was the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator the past two seasons.
As Tuesday's draft approached, most projections had Pitts going to the Falcons. The only players selected ahead of him were Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (No. 1 overall to Jacksonville), BYU quarterback Zach Wilson (Jets) and North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance (49ers).
"He's the ultimate matchup nightmare,'' ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said Thursday night on the draft telecast. "In a league predicated on winning matchups, he's the prototype. As a former defensive back, I would be scared to death to cover this guy."
Pitts became the 52nd first-round pick for the Gators in the modern draft era (since 1967), which ranks second in the Southeastern Conference behind Alabama. Pitts is just the fifth tight end in the last 25 drafts to be selected in the first 10 picks.
#NFLDraft making dreams come true pic.twitter.com/DkmTPBadOc
— Dan Mullen (@CoachDanMullen) April 29, 2021
A four-star recruit out of Archbishop (Pa.) High in the metro Philadelphia area, Pitts' breakout season came as a sophomore when he hauled in 54 passes for 469 yards and five scores. Pitts exploded as a junior, finishing with 43 receptions, 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight and a half games. Pitts skipped the Gators' Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma and declared for the NFL Draft, projected immediately as a first-round pick.
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Pitts was named the John Mackey Award winner (nation's top tight end) and a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, earning a brick outside the team's football offices.
"I'm going to tell you," Mullen said prior to the draft, "when you're in the meeting room and you're designing a game plan, he's awful fun to have and to have that little spot that you can go put up on the board and say, 'That's him and how are we going to move him around?' "
Now it's the Falcons' turn.
A look inside the war room the moment Kyle Pitts became a Falcon. pic.twitter.com/zGLh31hlGO
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 30, 2021
Players Mentioned
TE
/ FootballInside Gators Football presented by UF Health 10-13-25
Monday, October 13
Edge Kamran James Media Availability 10-13-25
Monday, October 13
Hayden Hansen Media Availability 10-13-25
Monday, October 13
Billy Napier Media Availability 10-13-25
Monday, October 13
