49ers: Why Kyle Pitts would make sense with the 12th pick

The San Francisco 49ers are viewed by many as a team in need of an upgrade at quarterback to truly harness the potential of Kyle Shanahan’s offense. However, in his first mock of the 2021 pre-draft season, NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah had them improving the offense via a very different route, using the 12th overall pick to select Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

Given that, beyond quarterback, the Niners have clear needs at edge rusher, cornerback and on the interior of the offensive line, the selection of Pitts would be a luxury pick, with Jeremiah’s decision to put him with the 49ers raising some eyebrows.

Yet there are plenty of reasons why San Francisco going after Pitts in the first round would make sense.

Why Pitts to 49ers makes sense

Pitts is a versatile matchup nightmare who can win with athleticism that allows him to get open on seam routes and surprising quickness for a man of his of 6ft 5in and 239-pound frame. Indeed, because of his lower-body agility, Pitts can create separation with his stem while also often relying on his size to get free from coverage.

His build also gives Pitts a significant advantage at the catch point, where he can tower over defenders and attack the ball at its highest point.

There is nothing in Pitts’ game to suggest he would not excel in the 49er offense. Yet, with arguably the best tight end in football, George Kittle, already on their roster, he would not fill an immediate need.

However, in addition to providing insurance for a player with a spotty injury history, Pitts could form a devastating tandem with Kittle akin to what the New England Patriots had in the early part of the 2010s.

Tight end not a need, however

Were they to stick with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback, having both Kittle and Pitts would provide him with two dynamic safety blankets, with Pitts able to mitigate inaccurate throws through his catch radius and body control, which enable him to serve as an excellent red-zone weapon.

Perhaps the biggest selling point Pitts has, however, is his versatility. He can play in-line but also brings significant upside when playing in the slot and even split out wide. The 49ers have already enjoyed great success on offense moving Kittle, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and wide receiver Deebo Samuel around in similar fashion and Pitts would potentially offer another layer of disguise for Shanahan to use to confuse defenses.

Tight end is not a need for the 49ers but there is always a case for building on your strengths. Pitts is a prospect who could elevate Garoppolo and make the San Francisco offense more diverse and more devastating in 2021 and beyond. For all those reasons, he is worthy of consideration by the Niners at No. 12.