2021 NFL mock draft: Dallas Cowboys select TE Kyle Pitts

It took them a couple of years, but the Dallas Cowboys finally got it done. Dak Prescott is signed to a long-term deal, now it’s up to the front office to build around their franchise quarterback, who is coming off a gruesome injury.

The days of the dominant offensive line and rushing game appear to be gone. Ezekiel Elliott is coming off his worst season to date, and the Cowboys defense ranked in the bottom 10 in most categories in 2020. In other words, there are a lot of different directions this team could go in the draft.

Acting as the Cowboys general manager in our Pride of Detroit Community mock is our friend Kudos. Before we get into the pick, here’s the board as it stands prior to Dallas’ pick:

POD Community Mock Draft picks so far:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
3. San Francisco 49ers: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota
4. Atlanta Falcons: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
6. Miami Dolphins: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
7. Detroit Lions: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
8. Carolina Panthers: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
9. Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

With the 10th pick in the POD Community Mock, the Dallas Cowboys have selected Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

Here’s Kudos with the reasoning for the pick:

After another season that failed to live up to expectations, “America’s Team” finds themselves drafting in the top 10 for the first time since 2016. Luckily for Dallas, the best prospect not named Trevor Lawrence is still available at pick 10. That prospect is Kyle Pitts.

Kyle Pitts was as dominant as any player in college football in 2020. In eight games, he put up a stat line of 43 receptions, 770 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Florida lined Pitts up inside and outside in Dan Mullen’s offense, and he constantly provided a mismatch regardless of who was covering him. In addition to taking games over as a receiver, the former Gator improved as a blocker while showing a willingness to do so.

He backed up what he put on film by running a 4.44 40-yard dash at almost 6-foot-6, 245 pounds at Florida’s pro day. Let’s just say it’s rare for someone that size to run that fast:

The Cowboys’ biggest move this offseason was signing Dak Prescott to a four-year contract with $126 million guaranteed. Dak already has a good trio at wide receiver to pass to but does not have the potential game-breaker at tight end that Pitts could be from day one. Pitts, CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup would provide Dallas’s big investment with a deep and talented pass-catching group that rivals any other in the NFL. He’d provide Kellen Moore with a unique weapon that could be deployed all over the field.

While the Cowboys may have more pressing needs on the other side of the ball, Pitts is too good of a prospect to pass up with the 10th pick. Additionally, they have three more top 100 picks they can use to fill these holes.

Erik Schlitt’s thoughts:

The only other position the Cowboys may have considered here is corner, as it’s another big need and there are still two first-round caliber options on the table in Jaycee Horn (South Carolina) and Caleb Fairley (Virginia Tech).

But it’s hard to argue with the value of Kudos’ selection of Pitts here. The Cowboys do have an arsenal of offensive weapons but the tight end group is lackluster and could use an upgrade—which they got in a massive way.