Kyle Pitts has spent his entire four-year career with the Atlanta Falcons after the franchise selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The one-time Pro Bowler appeared to be on a superstar trajectory after clearing the 1,000-yard threshold as a rookie. That has hardly been the case, though.
Pitts has recorded only 2,651 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 196 receptions in 61 career games. As he enters the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, Pitts’ name has come up in several trade rumors.
NFL Insider Shares Why Kyle Pitts Trade Remains Unlikely
The Falcons are looking to take the next step towards contention in 2025 after finishing 8-9 last season and 7-10 in each of the previous three seasons. While Pitts has been linked to other teams in trade rumors, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently shared that he doesn’t believe the tight end will be moved.
Speaking on his podcast, “The Breer Report”, the plugged-in reporter detailed all the reasons why the Falcons are better off keeping Pitts.
Number one, his contract is just too hefty to move as the 24-year-old tight end is playing on a fully guaranteed $11 million option. That money can’t be moved.
“I’m going to tell you why I don’t think Kyle Pitts winds up getting moved,” Breer said. “Now, he is set to play this year on a fully guaranteed $11 million option. It’s $10.8 million, to be exact. It’s a lot of money. Again, it’s locked in. It’s a lump sum.”
Pitts has other issues, too. The former first-round pick is an injury risk who blew out the MCL in his right knee in 2022. Pitts really hasn’t looked the same since that injury, according to Breer.
“The effects of the injury that he suffered in 2022 have lingered,” Breer said. “2023, he’s really playing through a lot – had to have his knee drained pretty consistently. Last year, with a new offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson coming in under Raheem Morris, he had to earn his spot back and split time with Charlie Woerner.”
Breer added that a deal for Pitts would not make sense unless Atlanta was willing to trade him for a fifth or sixth-round pick. He noted that their investment in the tight end would not be worth it for the franchise to receive such a minimal return. The former fourth overall pick recorded 47 receptions for 602 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in 2024.
“So, you look at where the Falcons are and it’s, well, yeah, this is one last swing on getting a guy we took with the fourth overall pick back,” Breer said. “If you’re another team, though, looking at this and you say to yourself, well, he was sort of a platoon player in 2024. He’s got the injury history. It’s an $11 million lump sum. Is it really worth it to take on that number and give up a draft pick on Day 2? Probably not.”