The Jacksonville Jaguars may have picked up a two-for-one player, Travis Hunter, in the 2025 NFL Draft, but there’s no reason to believe that one player can turn around a team that has only made four playoff appearances since 2000. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence will need plenty of support, which is why FOX Sports sees the addition of a Pro Bowl tight end as an ideal move for a team still searching for consistent success.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts Emerges as a Top Trade Target Linked to the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars do not have much draft capital left, as they traded their 2026 first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns to move up in this year’s draft.
Although Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is far from a third-round pick, the team did acquire two third-round picks from the Detroit Lions in a subsequent trade, which adds an interesting dynamic to the situation. Many would argue that even a third-rounder could be too much for Pitts, but the Jaguars remain desperate with little to no offensive weapons.
Kyle Pitts has become a meme, fairly, but people are forgetting a promising start to 2024.
Week 1-8
TE3 PPR total points
TE5 PPG
419 Yards (4th)
2.0 Yards Per Route Run (4th)
14.4 Yards Per Rec (1st among TEs with 15tgts)
5th in YAC/REC
4th in missed tackles forced/rec pic.twitter.com/7ey46zeoSE— Tom Strachan (@NFL_TStrack) July 2, 2025
Pitts’ production in Atlanta has largely been fine, but nothing spectacular. He continues to grow in the touchdown department, as he had just one in his rookie season but captured four last year.
After a 1,026-yard rookie season, Pitts missed seven games in 2022 and failed to reach 700 receiving yards in the past two seasons, finishing with 667 yards in 2023 and 602 yards in 2024. Although a knee injury slowed him down, the 24-year-old remains a dynamic talent with plenty to offer.
The Falcons were able to keep Pitts around due to his fifth-year option, but he will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season. Jacksonville, a team with Brenton Strange as its No. 1 tight end, would love to acquire a well-established name such as Pitts. Trading for him remains an option, but it’s unknown how many teams will throw an offer at him once the 2025 season ends.
For Lawrence, the receiving discrepancy was quite lopsided last season. Strange had the second-most receiving yards on the team (411), but he was a far cry from wideout Brian Thomas Jr. and his 1,282-yard year. Strange had a pair of touchdowns, one-fifth of what Thomas could haul in. It’s clear who Lawrence’s favorite target is, but with Engram and Strange ranking in the top five, the 25-year-old loves his tight ends.
Without Engram, Lawrence no longer has that safety blanket. While Strange has emerged as a dependable option, the offense still lacks a true difference-maker at tight end. Pairing Strange with Pitts would give Lawrence a versatile, high-upside duo capable of stretching defenses and filling the void left by Engram, who departed for the Denver Broncos on a two-year, $23 million contract.
Pitts’s playmaking ability could be the key to unlocking the next level in Lawrence’s development. If Jacksonville wants to keep pace in the AFC, this bold move could set them apart.
