Chargers land top TE prospect in early 2021 mock draft

I’ve honestly never been upset when analysts do early mock drafts. I like the content and it helps me keep up with top college prospects while my head is deep into NFL football.

So today I’m bringing you guys another early mock but this one is especially intriguing. Most mocked prospects to the Chargers in these exercises have been offensive tackle and maybe the occasional wide receiver. However, author Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports gave the Chargers a top player at a new position to think about in his latest mock.

Funny enough, it’s actually a player I’ve been mulling around in my own noggin for sometime now.

With the 8th-overall pick — yeah, he doesn’t think things will end well this year — Wilson has the Chargers selecting dynamic Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

“The Gators had their game postponed last weekend and that appears to be the only way to slow up Kyle Pitts,” says Wilson. “Yes, the Chargers have Hunter Henry but both he and Virgil Green will be free agents in the spring. And even if LA re-ups Henry, there’s nothing wrong with giving Justin Herbert another freakish athletic target.”

Now you’ll probably hear more about why I like the Pitts pick a little more on today’s episode of Chargers LAtely that I’ll be recording later with Chargers Wire editor Gvino Borquez, but this pick is a true luxury selection that I don’t think the Bolts can afford to make given the obvious needs that have been highlighted through the first six weeks of the season.

But just imagine, for a second, the offensive line finds a way to gel and the secondary finally starts playing like they were expected to before the year is up. The Chargers feel confident in their depth and decide to take the 6’6, 240-pound Pitts who is the definition of a “matchup nightmare.”

As a sophomore in 2019, Pitts hauled in 54 passes for 649 yards and five scores. As a junior this year, his early production has been on another planet as he’s already seven touchdowns on just 17 catches for 274 yards through THREE games. That’s big time.

Pitts is not going to be a team’s do-it-all tight end, but he’s going to offer an offense incredible versatility, similar to the way Jonnu Smith has found success with Ryan Tannehill and the Titans.

I can admit this scenario is still highly-unlikely, but I love when mocks think a bit outside of the box while not being too outlandish.

What do you all think of this selection? Yay or nay on Pitts?