Detroit Lions: Kyle Pitts might just be too good to pass up
By Bob Heyrman
If Kyle Pitts runs a sub-4.5 during Florida’s March 31st pro day, it may just be the cherry on top for the Detroit Lions.
He is a video of Pitts running what is said to be a 4.46 40-yard dash courtesy of Field Yates of ESPN.
Florida TE Kyle Pitts running a 4.46 40 (per the caption from @level40 on Instagram) is just the latest example of how different this dude is. pic.twitter.com/GM60Iyr1I5
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 22, 2021
If Pitts comes away on March 31st with a 40-time similar to this, he may not be available when the Detroit Lions are on the clock with the seventh pick.
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As I write this, I can hear the exhale, picture the eye roll, and imagine the clicking of this article closed across Metro Detroit. But Pitts has SOME of Calvin Johnson in him. Is he Calvin? No. But he’s a big body that is far more athletic than the majority his size.
Calvin stood 6-foot-5 and weighed about 237-pounds representing Georgia Tech at the 2007 NFL Combine. Johnson ran an incredible 4.35 40-yard dash. Now Pitts doesn’t have that speed but stands an inch taller and weighs about the same.
Pitts does have some other professional comparisons. He runs like former New Orleans Saints tight end Jared Cook, someone Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is very familiar with. In addition to Cook, his pure athleticism reminds me of Evan Engram but also Vernon Davis.
Pitts’ rare blend of athleticism, speed, skill, hands, and route-running ability reminds me a bit of another former New Orleans Saint, Marques Colston. Colston ran a 4.54 40-time and is 6-foot-4 while playing around 225-pounds. Clearly smaller than Pitts but was deemed a ‘tweener’ entering the draft but settled in as a receiver recording just shy of 10,000 career receiving yards. Colston often used his size to his advantage, and that is something Pitts can do too.
The Detroit Lions need to replace some of the production left behind by Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. It’s also a good idea to surround 26-year old quarterback Jared Goff with some talent before we fairly evaluate him in a Lions uniform.
If Pitts can run an official 4.45, I may change my mind over the next few days and rank Pitts above Waddle.
The 20-year old ‘offensive weapon’ recorded 770 yards on 43 grabs, good for an average of 17.9 yards per reception over eight games this past season for the Florida Gators. Pitts also hauled in 12 receiving touchdowns as a junior.
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Pitts started to flash as a sophomore, though, earning 649 yards on 54 catches totaling five scores.