There were some who likes him this year at the draft. Here's an article from PFT on his rookie season: Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has a chance to break a 60-year-old NFL record in the final three weeks of the season. That record is the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in a season, set by Chicago’s Mike Ditka in 1961. Ditka set the record with 1,076 receiving yards in 1961, and no one has come within even 100 yards of it in six decades since. But Pitts is getting close. Through 14 games, Pitts has 847 receiving yards, which is already the fifth-most for a rookie tight end in NFL history. With three more games to go, Pitts is on pace to finish this season with 1,029 yards, which would move him into second place all time, behind only Ditka. If Pitts can pick up the pace just a little bit, he can break Ditka’s record. It’s worth noting that Ditka set the record in a 14-game season, while Pitts is hoping to break it in 17 games. It’s also worth noting that Pitts is playing in an era that makes life easier for tight ends and receivers: This year NFL teams are averaging 231.8 passing yards per game; in 1961 NFL teams averaged 180.5 passing yards per game. So Ditka’s rookie season remains the gold standard for rookie tight ends. But it speaks well for Pitts that he’s coming close to a record that has stood for so long.
A lot of records will fall, but they need an asterisk with the 17 game season. Even NFL standards need some adjustment; a 1,000 yd season by a running back in 17 games means he only needed about 59 yds a game to get there. Not exactly the stuff of legends. Honestly, even at 16 games, it wasn't a huge accomplishment. I'd set the standard for a good rushing season at 1200 yds, 1500 yds for a great season, 1800 yds for amazing. Also, expect 2,000 yds to be reached 3-4 times a decade with a 17 game season.
Several of us wanted Pitts, but it just wasn't a possibility without staying pat with our original pick and then trading up to #2 or #3. It just wasn't worth the price, especially considering how Waddle and Holland are playing. Still, would have loved to have the big guy! Easily one of the most "sure things" in recent draft memory. When I first saw his name in the title, I was hoping that he was somehow cut or demanding a trade, LOL. That would have made my month!
This is why I put records into perspective based on games played and current rules. Had Marino played during the league’s passer friendly environment that’s so prevalent since his retirement, everyone would be saying Tom who? Drew who? Peyton who? Pitts versus Ditka. Call it the way it is. Pitts has 847 yards versus Ditka’s 1076. It’s not even close, even if at season’s end, Pitts’ season ending yardage eclipses Ditka
Man, I desperately wish that we had just stood pat and taken Pitts (who I view as a pass catcher, not really a TE) and Javonte Williams. Guys like Pitts are so rare, and only come along once in a while.
