FALCONS SELECT FLORIDA GATOR KYLE PITTS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2021 NFL DRAFT

Kyle Pitts and Roger Goodell after Pitts was chosen by the Falcons with the fourth pick in the NFL Draft, Thursday April 29 2021, in Cleveland. Tony Dejak

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On Thursday in front of thousands of NFL fans, it was a no go for a quarterback when the Atlanta Falcons selected Florida ‘s 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end Kyle Pitts with the fourth overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft.  

Pitts tallied 100 receptions for 1,492 yards (14.9 avg.) and 18 touchdowns in 32 career games over three seasons (2018-20) for the Florida Gators. 

He recorded 43 receptions for 770 yards (17.9 avg.) and 12 touchdowns in eight games last season, earning unanimous first-team All-America honors and the Mackey Award, given to college football’s most outstanding tight end. 

He’s an elite tight end, and he’s an elite wide receiver,” Florida Head Coach Dan Mullen said at Pitts’ Pro Day. “He’s such a dynamic player and he has so much versatility.” 

Pitts becomes the second tight end to be selected in the first round by the Falcons in franchise history, joining Junior Miller in 1980.