Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has a great expectation of improvement this year. He’s now one of the best players in the league. As free agency draws near, Pitts’ numbers have set him apart. His performance has seen him continue to place himself among the very best tight ends in all of football.
Pitts ranks second among all tight ends, accumulating 854 receiving yards. McBride currently sits second behind Arizona Cardinals rookie Trey McBride, who’s 1,098 yards leads the NFL. His 80 receptions are second most tied with Jake Ferguson for all Power 5 tight ends. McBride leads the nation in receptions with 109. Pitts has caught at least five receiving touchdowns this season. This accomplishment puts him in a four-way tie for fourth most overall with Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Ever since Week 13, Pitts has only gotten better. He is currently third in the NFL for all receiving yards. He is second in receptions in this span. Further, his four scores since Week 13 are tied for the most in the NFL.
As for the Atlanta Falcons themselves, they haven’t given any indication that they would, at least not yet. Currently, he’s playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. The tight end franchise tag is projected to be at $15.8 million by the 2026 season. If the Falcons were to elect not to franchise-tag Pitts, he’d be hitting the free-agent market this offseason.
On and off the field, Pitts is proving that he’s a dedicated professional to his role as the team’s focal point. He reflected on his collaborative spirit and work ethic, expressing his intention to make a difference anytime he got a chance to perform.
“It’s more of just trying to be the best teammate I can be on this offense, on this team and insert myself and whenever I get opportunities to make the most of them,” – Kyle Pitts
Head coach Raheem Morris has specifically commended Pitts for his poise, was cold under pressure. He mentioned that Pitts has always been a reliable catcher, proving to be spectacular at the catch point and as an all-around receiver against press/man coverage.
“Being able to go get the ball, making some critical catches, catching it contested, beat man-to-man coverage, winning some pretty tough looks, getting the ball on his hands, being able to do some of those things was special,” – Raheem Morris
However dominant he proved to be, there was a prudent wariness in the offseason over how much to expect of Pitts. Morris said he wanted to allow Pitts to show off his skills on game days instead of talking about them in advance.
“And you’re always looking for more from Kyle. We kind of talk about it a lot, and he’s given us more and it’s been nice,” – Raheem Morris
Despite his strong performance, there was a cautionary approach during the offseason regarding expectations surrounding Pitts. Morris expressed a desire to let Pitts showcase his abilities during games rather than discussing them beforehand.
“I was scared to talk about him in the offseason because you’re like, ‘Let’s just let him get out there and do it on his own — let guys see it for themselves,’” – Raheem Morris
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