4 prospects the Vikings might trade up for in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Dean Jones
Kyle Pitts – TE (Florida)
Although Kyle Rudolph recently stated that he feels worthy of his current contract and won’t be taking a discount, his production over the last two years states otherwise. The $5.1 million of savings involved with his release in the coming weeks might see his prolific time with the Vikings come to an end and it remains to be seen whether Irv Smith Jr. can make the necessary strides to fill the void long-term.
Every great NFL team needs a great pass-catching tight end. The Vikings would be losing a reliable red-zone presence and a prominent locker room leader if they parted ways with Rudolph, but if they managed to get their hands on a player like Kyle Pitts, it would soften the blow considerably.
It’s hard not to be almost in awe of the skill set Pitts has. The Florida standout is a supreme physical athlete who represents a matchup nightmare either in the slot or on the outside, with the prospect also possessing some eye-catching blocking ability that often gets overlooked thanks to his dynamic playmaking almost everywhere on the field.
Adding Pitts to an offense that is already loaded with playmakers would boost Minnesota’s chance of an instant postseason return.
This isn’t a huge need, so the decision-makers would be wary of making a big leap to acquire him. However, if he makes it out of the top-10 then jumping up a couple of spots to land a potentially elite weapon is something the Vikings should strongly consider.