McGinn: Anonymous Scouts On Kyle Pitts

[Beaker42]

Exactly
You need to have a plan in place that if you take Pitts at 10 you can flip Gallup for a rd 2/3 pick and get defensive help

At this point you wouldn’t get a tube of Ben Gay for Jarwin between his knee and that asinine contract they gave him. I mean JHC I wish my employer was that free with $$.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Nobody said they have to be picks this year.

No, but I’d like to use this year’s draft to drastically improve our defense. I’d much rather draft 5-6 players that can contribute than 10-11, half of which will either not make the team or never amount to anything.

 

[Verdict]

If he's there, you have to take him.

If your scouts are saying he's a potential hall of fame player, there is no question he's the pick.

No we WANT the next TACO, to feel better about things. (That’s sarcasm, by the way for some of the less well versed of this bunch).

 

[Verdict]

We had a great TE for years that was a chains mover, but haven't had one that is a game changer. I would have no problem with Pitts if we were able to score the DT and either S or CB that we need in FA. And yes, adding him would make me more likely to see what the interest in Gallup is.

If you draft Pitts, dangling Gallup as trade bait might be a good option as soon as the pick is made official.

 

[Verdict]

No, but I’d like to use this year’s draft to drastically improve our defense. I’d much rather draft 5-6 players that can contribute than 10-11, half of which will either not make the team or never amount to anything.

I don’t care if they make 5 picks or 10 picks, if they get 5 starters out of this draft, that would be a great haul. It’s also entirely possible.

We have 6 picks in the first four rounds. They should be knocking on the starter’s door from the moment they are picked.

It doesn’t matter if it’s OL, DT, LB, S, CB, they could easily start this year.

 

[BourbonBalz]

If you draft Pitts, dangling Gallup as trade bait might be a good option as soon as the pick is made official.

But what if you get no takers? It takes two to make a trade. I know Pitts is good, but I want defense and there’s plenty of very good players to choose from.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

No, but I’d like to use this year’s draft to drastically improve our defense. I’d much rather draft 5-6 players that can contribute than 10-11, half of which will either not make the team or never amount to anything.

Which is why you ask for higher future picks. Works for everybody, understand?

 

[jaythecowboy]

I'm torn between taking him if he falls to 10 or trading back for more picks. His draft profile is really good and NFL has him ranked second with anything above 7 a pro bowl talent.

1. Lawrence 7.4
2. Pitts 7.19
3. Smith 7.15
4. Chase 7.05
5. Surtain 7.02

Overview
While the player comparison for the purposes of this scouting report is Darren Waller, Pitts may have the traits and talent to create mismatches similar to those created by Calvin Johnson and Tyreek Hill. His rare blend of size, athleticism and ball skills are reminiscent of Megatron’s. His ability as a pass-catching tight end could force defenses in his division to alter the way they construct their roster. He’s a tough matchup for most linebackers and too big for most cornerbacks. He offers offensive coordinators the ability to align him all over the field and, like Waller, can become a highly targeted, highly productive pass catcher from the tight end position. He puts in effort as a blocker but with limited success. That’s not what makes him special, though. Along with Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, Pitts has a chance to become the biggest game-changer in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Strengths

• Challenging matchup who might require specialty defenders.
• Rare combination of size, speed, athleticism and elite ball skills.
• Puts in work on all three levels as pass catcher.
• Allows offense to align him into mismatches against static coverage schemes.
• Keeps defender on the back foot with alterations of route speed.
• Clever workarounds in space without getting slowed.
• Quick accelerator to explode past off-man near the line.
• Turn burst and long strides create instant separation for quarterback.
• Hand chops dislodge grabby defender inside the route.
• Quick to locate and track the throw while maintaining positioning.
• Tremendous poise with laser-sharp focus on contested catches.
• Clears catch space suddenly with subtle hand-fighting.
• Body control and timing make time stand still as airborne baller.
• Should consistently win back-shoulder and red-zone looks.
• Catches with strong, soft hands and consistent extension.
• Eliminated his focus drops in 2020.
• Good effort in trying to stay connected to the block.

If he can legitimately play outside that would be crazy versatility and you could use him in part to replace Gallup. You could come out in a two tight end set plus Cooper and Lamb and then audible and have Lamb in the slot and Pitts on the outside, or vice versa. Would confuse defenses for sure.

 

[Verdict]

But what if you get no takers? It takes two to make a trade. I know Pitts is good, but I want defense and there’s plenty of very good players to choose from.

Look at it this way.....If JJ Watt or A. Donald is there you pull the trigger. But if it’s Taco that’s there you don’t draft a Taco if you think Pitts is a hall of famer.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

If you draft Pitts, dangling Gallup as trade bait might be a good option as soon as the pick is made official.

There are so many people that just poo poo the idea of a TE, but if he is what people think he is, this is a more athletic Kelce. How could that not bea huge improvement and it would make the need for Gallup a little less.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Look at it this way.....If JJ Watt or A. Donald is there you pull the trigger. But if it’s Taco that’s there you don’t draft a Taco if you think Pitts is a hall of famer.

And why can’t two or three of the defensive players that might available also be possible HOFers? Pitts could end up being a bust. Any player can. No, you don’t draft a Taco, but our FO obviously thought Taco was good enough to go in the first round. They were wrong. They’ll. be wrong again at some point as are all teams. If there’s no defensive player they like at 10, they should TRY to trade back. If they can’t, then take the BPA.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Which is why you ask for higher future picks. Works for everybody, understand?

Oh I understand perfectly well there Einstein. But I usually don’t like trading for future picks. They’re too unreliable and do nothing for you now.

 

[Verdict]

And why can’t two or three of the defensive players that might available also be possible HOFers? Pitts could end up being a bust. Any player can. No, you don’t draft a Taco, but our FO obviously thought Taco was good enough to go in the first round. They were wrong. They’ll. be wrong again at some point as are all teams. If there’s no defensive player they like at 10, they should TRY to trade back. If they can’t, then take the BPA.

No. They didn’t see Taco as Donald. They knew he was a reach but took him based on need. That’s what happens when you reach for need.

When Tyron was drafted we needed an OT, but we didn’t reach based on need. The grade was there and we took him. That’s what happens when BPA lines up with need.

When the Cowboys have stuck to their board they have drafted well. When they reached for need they have failed miserably.

 

[Verdict]

There are so many people that just poo poo the idea of a TE, but if he is what people think he is, this is a more athletic Kelce. How could that not bea huge improvement and it would make the need for Gallup a little less.

I want to see the defense improve as much as anyone here, but drafting another Taco fixes nothing. Take the BPA and accumulate talent. It doesn’t matter where it is. Draft talent and if you have too much at one position flip a player for more picks or help at other positions.

 

[BourbonBalz]

No. They didn’t see Taco as Donald. They knew he was a reach but took him based on need. That’s what happens when you reach for need.

When Tyron was drafted we needed an OT, but we didn’t reach based on need. The grade was there and we took him. That’s what happens when BPA lines up with need.

When the Cowboys have stuck to their board they have drafted well. When they reached for need they have failed miserably.

And I’m not saying you draft a lesser player for need only. I’m saying I (and many others) think there are a couple of corners and maybe a LB that can be as good at their positions as Pitt is at TE. Do the Cowboys think that? No idea and neither does anyone else but them. There is no “sure thing” as some want to throw out. It doesn’t exist. Every pick is a risk.

 

[jaythecowboy]

And I’m not saying you draft a lesser player for need only. I’m saying I (and many others) think there are a couple of corners and maybe a LB that can be as good at their positions as Pitt is at TE. Do the Cowboys think that? No idea and neither does anyone else but them. There is no “sure thing” as some want to throw out. It doesn’t exist. Every pick is a risk.

There is no sure thing but intentionally taking a worse player makes it more likely. Not saying that is what you are advocating for but some people essentially are. Obviously some defenders will turn out great and any player can bust but as prospects there aren't any corners on Pitts' level. Farley has a high ceiling because of his physical attributes but his play doesn't measure up. And Surtain has great tape but there are questions about his speed in the NFL. Not to mention Pitts roasted Surtain 1 on 1 on the outside. But like you said, the Cowboys' evaluation is what matters.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Question is how much better will he make the offense? Especially if you have to trade Gallup to get him. Can he increase the average offensive score by like 7-10 more a game?

That's what he'll have to do, barring somehow the Cowboys getting one heck of a defensive free agent haul, which we all know Dallas hasn't done since getting Charles Haley.

Without a top 10 pick on defense, or trading back to get a couple of first and second rounder defensive picks, you're still going to see Dallas lose 10 games, just it'll be by a score of 35-31 rather than 35-24...

 

[texbumthelife]

We had a great TE for years that was a chains mover, but haven't had one that is a game changer. I would have no problem with Pitts if we were able to score the DT and either S or CB that we need in FA. And yes, adding him would make me more likely to see what the interest in Gallup is.

It's ridiculous how quickly some of you forget players primes and only remember their twilight. Jason Witten was absolutely a game changer in his prime. He wasn't the athlete Pitts is, but he was the toughest person on the field for the Cowboys for a decade and was borderline uncoverable.

I also seem to remember a play where dude got his helmet yanked off and kept running like his hair was on fire.

Game changers aren't always the greatest athletes. They're the guys that change the way other teams play. If you don't think teams called defenses differently when Witten was on the field then you weren't paying attention.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

It's ridiculous how quickly some of you forget players primes and only remember their twilight. Jason Witten was absolutely a game changer in his prime. He wasn't the athlete Pitts is, but he was the toughest person on the field for the Cowboys for a decade and was borderline uncoverable.

I also seem to remember a play where dude got his helmet yanked off and kept running like his hair was on fire.

Game changers aren't always the greatest athletes. They're the guys that change the way other teams play. If you don't think teams called defenses differently when Witten was on the field then you weren't paying attention.

Witten is one of my favorite players of all time but I don't see him as the game changer. He was a security blanket and he got the job done and is a first ballot Hall of Famer due to continued excellence. Did he make some big plays? Absolutely, but that isn't what he will be known for.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Witten is one of my favorite players of all time but I don't see him as the game changer. He was a security blanket and he got the job done and is a first ballot Hall of Famer due to continued excellence. Did he make some big plays? Absolutely, but that isn't what he will be known for.

A drive sustaining first down can be a very big play.