SE Atlanta News

Kyle Pitts, the Atlanta Falcons' tight end, was drafted as the highest-selected player in his position in NFL history when he was picked fourth overall in 2021. In his rookie season, Pitts achieved significant success with 1,026 receiving yards, making him the second most successful first-year tight end behind Mike Ditka and earning him a Pro Bowl selection.

However, since then, Pitts has struggled to replicate his initial success. At the 2025 NFL Combine on Tuesday, questions arose about his performance and future with the team. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris acknowledged the pressure on Pitts due to his draft status and expressed a desire for him to reach his full potential. "He's always going to have the added pressure because of how high he was drafted, right?" Morris said. "So, we want to be able to get the young man out there and be the best version of him."

Pitts faced challenges in subsequent seasons: a knee injury limited him to 356 receiving yards in 2022 over ten games; he managed 667 yards in 2023 while not fully healthy; and recorded 602 yards in 2024 without notable injuries. Despite these hurdles, Morris noted that Pitts shows "spurts of greatness" alongside areas needing improvement.

Inconsistencies were evident last year when Pitts had two games without any receptions—a first for him—against New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers. Yet he also achieved career highs with four touchdowns in 2024, including memorable plays such as scoring Atlanta's first touchdown of the season against Pittsburgh Steelers and a two-touchdown game versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot remains optimistic about Pitts' abilities: "Look, Kyle's a really talented player," Fontenot said. The team picked up Pitts' fifth-year option last offseason due to confidence in his potential contributions.

As Pitts enters what could be a pivotal season before becoming a free agent at age 24, there's optimism surrounding Atlanta's offense with recent first-round picks Michael Penix Jr., Drake London, and Bijan Robinson joining forces. How Pitts integrates into this dynamic will be closely watched. Fontenot emphasized mutual commitment: "We believe that Kyle's going to put everything he can into being the best player he can for us."