NFL Mock Draft Tracker Week 3: Does a TE make sense for the Cardinals?
Jan 22, 2021, 5:20 PM | Updated: 5:47 pm

Kyle Pitts #84 of the Florida Gators celebrates a touchdown during the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
The most popular link to the Arizona Cardinals in this week’s crop of NFL mock drafts around the country is tight end Kyle Pitts of Florida.
Let’s get this out of the way: Pitts is a ridiculously talented tight end and was a main cog in Florida’s explosive offense in 2020. He was a consensus All-American, caught 43 passes for 770 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in only eight games. He’s easily the best tight end prospect in this year’s class.
He’d certainly be a weapon for quarterback Kyler Murray in head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense if he’s the pick, but does spending the 16th overall pick on a receiving tight end make perfect sense?
Cardinals quarterbacks have completed just 88 passes to tight ends over Kingsbury’s two seasons at the helm. In 2020, Dan Arnold had a decent year with 31 catches for 438 yards and four touchdowns, but based on how much the team raved about him during training camp, one could argue he was still under-utilized.
Is an elite-level pass-catching tight end what was missing?
Again, I think Pitts is destined for a great NFL career and looked unstoppable in a Gators uniform, but as it stands right now, the Cardinals could have bigger needs when April rolls around.
Anyway, Pitts showed up in four of the 23 mocks added this week and is still the second-most common player linked to the Cardinals behind South Carolina corner Jaycee Horn, who has appeared in 11 mocks at No. 16.
Other players showing up in more than one mock this week were Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau, Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey and Michigan edge defender Kwity Payne.
Arizona Sports 2021 NFL Mock Draft Tracker
Date | Outlet | Author | Mock Draft | Cardinals pick at #16 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 22 | NFL.com | Daniel Jeremiah | Daniel Jeremiah 2021 NFL mock draft 1.0: Zach Wilson to Jets | Jaelen Phillips, Edge, Miami,FL |
Jan 22 | Baltimore Sun | C.J. Doon | 2021 NFL mock draft (Version 2.0): First-round projections ahead of conference championship weekend | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
Jan 22 | AtlantaFalcons.com | Matthew Tabeek | Tabeek’s 2021 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Jets trade for Deshaun Watson, Falcons secure future at QB | Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama |
Jan 22 | Stanford Daily | Shan Reddy | Reddy’s 2021 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
Jan 22 | Walter Football | Charlie Campbell | 2021 NFL Mock Draft – Charlie Campbell | Kwity Payne, Edge, Michigan |
Jan 22 | Drafttek | Staff | 2021 NFL Mock Draft Revision #13-B | Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma |
Jan 21 | CBS Sports | Josh Edwards | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Jets acquire Deshaun Watson, trade Sam Darnold to the NFC | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 20 | CBS Sports | Chris Trapasso | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: How the first round unfolds if Jets trade for Deshaun Watson | Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State |
Jan 20 | Pro Football Network | Zach Segars | Segars’ First Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech |
Jan 20 | Walter Football | Walter Cherepinsky | 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 20 | San Diego Union-Tribune | Eddie Brown | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Two rounds! | Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech |
Jan 19 | CBS Sports | Ryan Wilson | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Steelers, Panthers trade up for QBs as five go off the board in first 10 picks | Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami, FL |
Jan 19 | Athlon Sports | Bryan Fischer | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions (Updated) | Kwity Payne, Edge, Michigan |
Jan 19 | College Football News | Pete Fiutak | 2021 NFL Mock Draft, Team Needs: College Football Perspective, January | Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami, FL |
Jan 18 | CBS Sports | Chris Trapasso | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Texans trade Deshaun Watson to Dolphins and take Zach Wilson, Saints go receiver | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 18 | Sporting News | Vinnie Iyer | NFL mock draft 2021: Justin Fields falls to Falcons after Jets skip QB; Saints, Browns get consolation prizes | Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC |
Jan 18 | Pro Football Network | Matthew Valdovinos | Valdovinos’ 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami, FL |
Jan 18 | Akron Beacon-Journal | Dan Kadar | 2021 NFL mock draft: Trevor Lawrence is the obvious No. 1 pick | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
Jan 18 | Draft Kings | Collin Sherwin and David Fucillo | Trevor Lawrence one of three QBs in top 10 of 2021 NFL mock draft following Divisional round | Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota |
Jan 18 | NJ.com | Chris Franklin | NFL 2021 Draft: Jets’ big decision at No. 2; Eagles eye DeVonta Smith or Ja’Marr Chase; Justin Fields sliding | Full 1st-round mock projection | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
Jan 18 | NFL Spin Zone | Cody Williams | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Bears, Falcons, 49ers all join QB rat race | Joseph Ossai, Edge, Texas |
Jan 17 | Drafttek | Staff | 2021 NFL Mock Draft Revision #13-A | Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma |
Jan 14 | San Diego Union-Tribune | Eddie Brown | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Two rounds! | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
Jan 14 | NBC Sports Chicago | Glynn Morgan | 2021 NFL Mock Draft 18.0: Mac Jones shoots up draft, Justin Fields falls | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
Jan 14 | Jaguars.com | John Oehser | Mock Draft 1.0: The Jaguars “select…” | Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama |
Jan 13 | Walter Football | Charlie Campbell | 2021 NFL Mock Draft – Campbell | Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech |
Jan 13 | CBS Sports | Chris Trapasso | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Texans trade Deshaun Watson to Dolphins, Houston picks Zach Wilson at No. 3 overall | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 13 | Pro Football Network | Ben Rolfe | Rolfe’s First-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State |
Jan 13 | Walter Football | Walter Cherepinsky | 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 12 | CBS Sports | Ryan Wilson | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots land QB, Dolphins add two Alabama stars to help Tua Tagovailoa | Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia |
Jan 12 | The Athletic | Dane Brugler | Two-round 2021 NFL mock draft: Four QBs early, DeVonta Smith reunites with Tua | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 12 | Sporting News | Vinnie Iyer | NFL mock draft 2021: Projecting where Alabama, Ohio State players will land in first round | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
Jan 11 | CBS Sports | Chris Trapasso | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Seven receivers go in Round 1, Broncos pick Kwity Paye to replace Von Miller | Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC |
Jan 11 | Pro Football Focus | Anthony Treash | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins select QB Justin Fields with Pick No. 3, 49ers send Pick No. 12 to Miami for QB Tua Tagovailoa | Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama |
Jan 11 | Bleacher Report | Joseph Zucker | NFL Mock Draft 2021: Post-CFP Championship Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects | Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech |
Jan 11 | NJ.com | Mike Kaye | NFL Draft 2021: Justin Fields or Penei Sewell No. 2 to Jets? Ja’Marr Chase or DeVonta Smith to Eagles? 3 QBs in top 5 | Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia |
Jan 10 | The Draft Network | Brentley Weissman | Weissman’s 2021 NFL Mock Draft 4.0 | Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech |
Jan 10 | Pro Football Network | Ian Cummings | Cummings’ 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 8 | Pro Football Network | Jarrett Bailey | Bailey’s First-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Kwity Payne, Edge, Michigan |
Jan 8 | The Spun | Dan Lyons | 2021 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Who Will The Jaguars, Jets, Dolphins, Etc. Take? | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 8 | Drafttek | Staff | 2021 NFL Mock Draft Revision #12-B | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 7 | The Draft Network | Joe Marino | Marino’s 2021 NFL Mock Draft 4.2 | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 7 | ESPN | Todd McShay | NFL mock draft 2021: Todd McShay’s predictions for all 32 first-round picks following the regular season | Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson |
Jan 7 | Fox Sports | Jason McIntyre | NFL Mock Draft 5.0 | Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama |
Jan 7 | NBC Sports Chicago | Glynn Morgan | 2021 NFL Mock Draft 17.0: Justin Fields falls, Bears don’t pick QB | Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama |
Jan 7 | CBS Sports | Josh Edwards | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Quarterbacks taken with first four picks after two teams trade up | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
Jan 7 | San Diego Union-Tribune | Eddie Brown | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Two-round projections | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
Jan 6 | CBS Sports | Chris Trapasso | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Broncos pick Kwity Paye to replace Von Miller, seven receivers go in Round 1 | Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC |
Jan 5 | CBS Sports | Ryan Wilson | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins take QB after Tua continues to struggle, Eagles use No. 6 pick on receiver | Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State |
Jan 5 | Athlon Sports | Bryan Fischer | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
Jan 5 | USA Today | Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz | NFL mock draft 2021: Justin Fields, Zach Wilson among five QBs in first-round projection | Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama |
Jan 4 | Newsday | Nick Klopsis | 2021 NFL mock draft 1.0: The first 18 picks | Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia |
Jan 4 | SB Nation | James Dator | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round | Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC |
Jan 4 | Pro Football Focus | Michael Renner | 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Jets settle on Zach Wilson, 49ers move up for Justin Fields | Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama |