The 2021 NFL Draft will be April 29 - May 1, 2021, and the Florida Gators might have up to 7 draft selections, with 9 of 14 draft eligibles being "invited" to the canceled NFL Combine.
Pitts is described as being a unicorn in terms over pure athletic talent, but in an NFL scheme his is valued more for his pass-catching and mismatch creation than his TE blocking. The more common projections in order from most realistic to least:
- Atlanta Falcons at #4 (CBS)
- Miami Dolphins at #6 (CBS, 247Sports)
- Carolina Panthers at #8 (ESPN)
- Dallas Cowboys at #10 (USA Today)
- New York Giants at #11 (USA Today)
I do not see how the NFL scouts will let Pitts go outside the top-6. Most analysts have Trevor Lawrence to Jacksonville Jaguars at #1, Zach Wilson to New York Jets, and Mac Jones or Trey Lance to San Francisco at #3. After that, the best players available are Kyle Pitts, Ja'Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, and Justin Fields. I cannot see any way Pitts is selected outside this group of 8.
- Baltimore Ravens at #27 (CBS)
- New Orleans Saints at #28 (CBS, 247Sports)
- Cincinnati Bengals at #38 (ESPN)
- Washington Football Team at #19 (USA Today)
- New Orleans Saints at #28
- Seattle Seahawks at #56
- Minnesota Vikings at #90 (CBS, 247Sports)
- New England Patriots at #96
- Philadelphia Eagles at #150 (CBS, 247Sports)
SI thinks he would be a good fit for Jacksonville (with CJ Henderson) or Arizona in later rounds. Dan Quinn of the Dallas Cowboys might be interested in using Wilson as an inside CB.
https://twitter.com/SI_AllGators/status/1380145904850673668?s=20
- Las Vegas Raiders at #200 (CBS, 247Sports)
https://twitter.com/Rivals/status/1376035067332423681?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1376035067332423681|twgr^|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https://floridagators.com/news/2021/3/30/football-carters-corner-pro-day-blog.aspx
https://twitter.com/DraftDiamonds/status/1377271138355646474?s=20
- Jacksonville Jaguars at #249 (CBS, 247Sports)
https://twitter.com/985TheSportsHub/status/1370788757436297218?s=20
Projected Draft Board:
TE Kyle Pitts
Fun fact: Ben Troupe is the highest-drafted tight end out of UF (2nd round of 2004 draft, 40th overall). The first tight end drafted out of UF was Jim Yarbrough (2nd round of 1969 draft, 47th overall). Pitts is projected by most experts to go in the top 15, possibly top 5.Pitts is described as being a unicorn in terms over pure athletic talent, but in an NFL scheme his is valued more for his pass-catching and mismatch creation than his TE blocking. The more common projections in order from most realistic to least:
- Atlanta Falcons at #4 (CBS)
- Miami Dolphins at #6 (CBS, 247Sports)
- Carolina Panthers at #8 (ESPN)
- Dallas Cowboys at #10 (USA Today)
- New York Giants at #11 (USA Today)
I do not see how the NFL scouts will let Pitts go outside the top-6. Most analysts have Trevor Lawrence to Jacksonville Jaguars at #1, Zach Wilson to New York Jets, and Mac Jones or Trey Lance to San Francisco at #3. After that, the best players available are Kyle Pitts, Ja'Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, and Justin Fields. I cannot see any way Pitts is selected outside this group of 8.
WR Kadarius Toney
Toney is an interesting selection as a raw athlete on special teams and offense, and recently as a polished wide receiver. At 5'11", 193 pounds and with 9.25" hands he is considered undersized for a traditional wide receiver, but his movement, newfound ability to run clean routes with separation, and displayed ability to adapt, there are teams willing to take the former 2nd-team All American in the 1st round. The predictions:- Baltimore Ravens at #27 (CBS)
- New Orleans Saints at #28 (CBS, 247Sports)
- Cincinnati Bengals at #38 (ESPN)
- Washington Football Team at #19 (USA Today)
QB Kyle Trask
For some reason the Heisman candidate is not getting the same respect as Mac Jones despite having a much better Pro Day. The predictions:- New Orleans Saints at #28
- Seattle Seahawks at #56
- Minnesota Vikings at #90 (CBS, 247Sports)
- New England Patriots at #96
CB Marco Wilson
Marco is considered the #2 CB in terms of Relative Athletic Score (RAS) behind Jaycee Horn. I will throw a shoe at the TV if Marco Wilson does not get drafted before round 7:- Philadelphia Eagles at #150 (CBS, 247Sports)
SI thinks he would be a good fit for Jacksonville (with CJ Henderson) or Arizona in later rounds. Dan Quinn of the Dallas Cowboys might be interested in using Wilson as an inside CB.
DT TJ Slaton
- Green Bay Packers at #136 (247Sports)OT Stone Forsythe
- Las Vegas Raiders at #167 (CBS, 247Sports)https://twitter.com/SI_AllGators/status/1380145904850673668?s=20
WR Trevon Grimes
Grimes probably would have been a solid round 1 or round 2 selection in 2022 if he had returned. His pro day showed enough for some teams to possibly take him in this draft, but at a lower pick.- Las Vegas Raiders at #200 (CBS, 247Sports)
https://twitter.com/Rivals/status/1376035067332423681?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1376035067332423681|twgr^|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https://floridagators.com/news/2021/3/30/football-carters-corner-pro-day-blog.aspx
C Brett Heggie
- Houston Texans at #195 (CBS, 247Sports)https://twitter.com/DraftDiamonds/status/1377271138355646474?s=20
K Evan McPherson
McPherson is rated as the #1 or #2 kicker in this draft (Miami's Jose Borregales). If he does not get drafted he would be a good UDFA.- Jacksonville Jaguars at #249 (CBS, 247Sports)
https://twitter.com/985TheSportsHub/status/1370788757436297218?s=20
TE Kalif Jackson
Kalif completed his degree at UF in 2019 and finished the 2020 season at Grambling State. He participated in the Florida Pro Day, but is not expected to be drafted. Note that former Gators Martez Ivey and Adam Shuler also participated in Florida Pro Day despite not getting drafted in 2019 or 2020.S Shawn Davis
The Gators stake their claim as DBU based on the streak of having a DB drafted in the NFL every year since 2016. Davis could be a late-round pick, but more likely he will not be able to continue that streak and will be an UDFA. His performance at the Senior Bowl seemed to impress the scouts. He is rated just outside the top 10 safeties in this draft.Projected Draft Board:
Name | Projection |
---|---|
Kyle Pitts | R1 - Miami |
Kadarius Toney | R1 - New Orleans |
Kyle Trask | R3 - New England |
Marco Wilson | R4 - Philadelphia |
TJ Slaton | R4 - Green Bay |
Stone Forsythe | R4 - Las Vegas |
Trevon Grimes | R6 - Las Vegas |
Brett Heggie | R6 - Houston |
Evan McPherson | R7 - Jacksonville |
Kalif Jackson, Shawn Davis, Ventrell Miller | UDFA |
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