A bizarre offseason paved the way for a year for the Atlanta Falcons that can best be described as underwhelming. Dishing out a massive contract to Kirk Cousins before drafting Michael Penix Jr. was the start of things going awry.
But throughout the year, the team couldn’t string together strong performances consistently enough. As a result, they made a mid-year QB change. However, they still missed the playoffs and now enter 2025 in a similar state. There could be room though for minor improvements, and one analyst has an avenue for Atlanta to explore.
Atlanta Falcons Get Rid of Kyle Pitts
Taking a tight end with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft was a bold decision by a team that has seemingly become renowned for them. And, in his rookie season, it looked like Pitts would deliver on that promise.
While far from a polished product, he still tallied 1,026 yards and recorded a touchdown while averaging over 15 yards a reception. Unfortunately, an injury in Year 2 derailed his career, and he hasn’t looked the same.
After a disastrous 2024 season, Aaron Schatz of ESPN believes it is time for the Falcons to move on: “Pitts was supposed to revolutionize the tight end position after the Falcons selected him fourth overall in the 2021 draft. It hasn’t worked out that way.”
He was especially critical of the year the tight end put together in 2024. “Pitts caught 47 passes for 602 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. He ranked 32nd out of 48 qualifying tight ends in receiving DVOA.” As a result, a move is the best-case scenario for the franchise and player.
“It’s time to move on,” Schatz said. “Another team probably believes they can tap into Pitts’ potential, even after four NFL seasons.” However, he went a more direct route to explain the situation Atlanta was in.
“The Falcons have to make their choice: They can pay Pitts $10 million for another possibly mediocre season and hope to get a compensatory pick when he leaves after 2025, or they can trade him and get a pick sooner while getting $10 million off the books. The latter is the better choice.”
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A team in need of offensive weapons, like the Buffalo Bills, the Los Angeles Rams, or even the Washington Commanders, might take a swing on Pitts. Even a team like the Kansas City Chiefs, who if not this year then in the very near future have to adjust to life without Travis Kelce.
If they can mold Pitts into a similar model, the transition could at least be easier if not completely smooth.
But as far as the Falcons are concerned, their best bet is to use the compensation and cap space to improve a defense that finished as the fourth-worst unit in the league, per PFSN’s Defense+ metric.