Tag: Kyle Pitts

Falcons rookie QB weighs in on Kyle Pitts situation

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. weighs in on Kyle Pitts situation

Since 2021, the Atlanta Falcons have used four top-10 draft picks on offense. While Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Michael Penix Jr. have each shown promise, Pitts has been trending in the wrong direction since his 1,000-yard rookie season.

The former No. 4 overall pick out of Florida was projected for a big year in 2024 but finished with 47 catches for 602 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Production-wise, Pitts finished just outside of the top 10 players at his position.

There were some low points, like when he bobbled a red-zone pass attempt from Penix that led to an ugly interception. And there were high points, like when Pitts caught a fourth-down touchdown strike from Penix to send a Week 17 matchup against the Washington Commanders to overtime.

Many in the Falcons fan base are writing off the 24-year-old tight end, but Penix is not giving up on his teammate. During an interview on NBC’s “Pro Football Talk,” the rookie QB was asked his thoughts on Pitts.

“I’m going to believe in him,” Penix said of Pitts. “He knows that. I just talked to him the other day, and we just talked about some of the things that we want to do and it’s like, all right, I’m going to give you my all each and every day, and I want you to do the same. Once we do that, our connection is going to continue to build.”

Penix’s optimism has endeared him to his teammates, but many around the league are projecting the Falcons to trade Pitts over the offseason. The Falcons are over $11 million over the cap and Pitts has a cap hit of $10.8 million this season.

While a trade does make sense from a cap standpoint, it would also create a need at the tight end position. Penix is going forward with the assumption Pitts will be here and taking it upon himself to get his teammate the ball in 2025.

“At the end of the day, whenever he’s open, I’ve got to find him and get him the ball, and I know he’ll make big-time plays whenever it’s in his hands.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]

NFL analyst predicts Falcons trade former No. 4 pick to Bengals

ESPN analyst predicts Falcons trade Kyle Pitts to the AFC during 2025 offseason

The Atlanta Falcons offense ranked fifth in passing yards last season but Kyle Pitts finished with fewer receptions and receiving yards than he did in 2023. After the team upgraded at quarterback, many believed Pitts would recapture the magic from his 1,000-yard rookie campaign.

However, the former No. 4 overall pick ended his fourth NFL season with 47 catches, 602 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Those aren’t bad numbers for a tight end, but they’re less than ideal for someone drafted ahead of Ja’Marr Chase.

Pitts has one year left on his rookie contract, which has prompted trade speculation from fans and analysts. ESPN released a new feature with offseason predictions for all 32 teams.  Ben Solak’s prediction for Atlanta was trading Pitts to the Cincinnati Bengals for a Day 3 draft pick:

Tight end Kyle Pitts is due $10.8 million on the final year of his deal in 2025. Can the Falcons get more for him in a trade than they would in a compensatory pick after he leaves in free agency? I think they could, as he has a rosier future on an offense that actually fits his skill set. My prediction: Pitts will get dealt to the Bengals for a Day 3 pick. — ESPN’s Ben Solak

A Day 3 draft pick (Rounds 4-7) doesn’t sound like a great return for a former top-five selection. If you throw in the fact that Pitts is just 24 years old — the same age as Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. — it only sounds worse.

However, the Falcons could lose Pitts for nothing in 2026, which would hurt even more. There’s certainly a case to be made for moving the former Florida Gators star, but there’s also a case for keeping him.

Pitts finished the year ranked 13th in receiving yards among tight ends. And aside from running back Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta hasn’t exactly nailed its Day 3 draft picks under general manager Terry Fontenot.

Trading Pitts would also create a hole at tight end that the team would need to allocate more offseason resources to fill. Charlie Woerner is an outstanding blocker but isn’t used much in the passing game.

Pitts has 196 career receptions for 2,651 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns since entering the league in 2021.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]

Trade Block: ESPN predicts Kyle Pitts, Breece Hall available, Cowboys should consider both

Dallas may be able to do what they did in 2023, trade Day 3 picks to acquire key contributors.

Sooner or later, the Dallas Cowboys are going to settle on a head coach. Whether that’s Mike McCarthy returning for Year 6 or someone from the outside, there will be a direction forged for the 2025 offseason. Once that shell is outlined, the front office will then turn their attention to veteran additions to the 2025 roster.

Dallas has a ton of internal free agents to consider, but they also have positions where upgrades to the roster must be considered. Many will look at the season as a whole and point to a team decimated by injuries, but things were off from the beginning. This is especially true on offense, where after years atop the league, things plummeted in 2024.

Dallas lacked explosiveness from the offense, and that was especially true at running back and tight end. While Rico Dowdle enjoyed the limelight down the back stretch of the season and ended up with over 1,000 yards on the ground, he didn’t have any breakaway runs. Meanwhile tight end Jake Ferguson regressed from his breakout 2023 campaign, and once again leaves the position as a huge question mark.

And while Dallas has been hesitant to spend in free agency, they have shown a willingness to trade draft picks for young, unrealized talent. If that’s the case this year, there may be prime targets at each position.

ESPN+ (paywall recently put out their offseason predictions for each NFL team that has been eliminated. For the Atlanta Falcons, they predicted trading TE Kyle Pitts. For the New York Jets, they predicted trading RB Breece Hall. The Cowboys should absolutely be in on both.

New York Jets

Big prediction for the offseason: While receiver Garrett Wilson is the buzzy trade candidate these days, the Jets will end up trading their other young offensive star, Breece Hall. It’s a bad year for free agent running backs, but some teams will be looking for a similar veteran boost to those the Eagles, Ravens and Packers found on the veteran market last offseason. Hall’s injuries are starting to catch up to him, and the Jets would be wise to move on from him early, while he still has some value leaguewide — especially with young backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis showing promise. — Solak

The NFL has seen running backs with high draft pedigree take a few years to get passed their injury-prone ways. Christian McCaffrey was somewhat this guy in Carolina and Saquon Barkley was this guy in New York.

Hall had the big injury his rookie season, but he’s played through the smaller injuries for the most part his last two seasons. If the Jets are looking to offload the former second-round pick, Dallas should find out the asking price.

The 2025 draft is seen as one deep in running backs, but Dallas will likely have four fifth-round picks. Hall has just one year remaining on his rookie deal before free agency, and may not command much in return.

Atlanta Falcons

Big prediction for the offseason: Tight end Kyle Pitts is due $10.8 million on the final year of his deal in 2025. Can the Falcons get more for him in a trade than they would in a compensatory pick after he leaves in free agency? I think they could, as he has a rosier future on an offense that actually fits his skill set. My prediction: Pitts will get dealt to the Bengals for a Day 3 pick. — Solak

Pitts is set to play on the fifth-year option in 2025 as a former first-round pick. His rookie season was sensational, catching over 1,000 yards and making the Pro Bowl, but he hasn’t approached that level since. The 6-foot-6 Florida product was seen as a unicorn entering the 2021 draft but hasn’t been a great fit for the Falcons.

What he could bring to Dallas and Dak Prescott, who adores passing to the tight end down the seams, could be incredible.

Nation’s 2nd-ranked 2026 TE plans Junior Day visit to Florida

After visiting the Swamp for a gameday in October, blue-chip tight end Kaiden Prothro plans a return to Gainesville for Florida’s upcoming Junior Day.

Bowdon (Georgia) tight end [autotag]Kaiden Prothro[/autotag] is one of the class of 2026’s top tight ends, and Florida continues to push for the Peach State product with all eyes in the recruiting world turning to the juniors.

Approaching 6 feet 7 inches and a sturdy 210 pounds that’s leaned down through high school, Prothro could be the next great pass-catching tight end in the Southeastern Conference. Florida is pitching the [autotag]Kyle Pitts[/autotag] comparison, and Georgia is likely invoking Brock Bowers in its own pitch to Prothro.

After standing out as an underclassman during the Under Armour All-American Bowl practices, Prothro’s next trip will be to Gainesville for a second look at the Florida Gators on Jan. 11.

“(Tight ends) Coach (Russ) Callaway actually called me the other day,” Prothro said to Gators Online. “He texts me about every other day, just talking to me, seeing what I’m up to and when I’m coming back down. I think I’m going down there on the 11th for junior day, so I’ll be down there with them just building relationships.”

Prothro doesn’t have any other visits set up, but he’s already been to Georgia six times and Auburn and Ole Miss four times each. Florida will now own two of his four most recent trips, but Georgia and Auburn are much closer drives for him. Prothro says schools outside a four-hour radius are battling a potential dealbreaker.

He last visited The Swamp in October for Florida’s Week 8 win over Kentucky. It was DJ Lagway’s first game as the full-time starter and Florida has become a prominent landing spot for pass catchers since.

“DJ Lagway is playing well for them and they have some recruits coming in,” Prothro said to On3’s Chad Simmons after the visit. “Florida, they’re a football team that plays hard and produces tight ends like Kyle Pitts, who plays for the Falcons. That makes them a top contender for me.”

Recruiting Summary

Star Ratings

Prothro is a consensus four-star recruit ranked inside the top 75 nationally by every major service. ESPN is the highest on him at No. 17 overall.

The 247Sports composite has him at No. 22 overall and No. 2 among tight ends in the class of 2026, while the On3 industry ranking puts him at Nos. 41 and 2, respectively.

Predictions

Georgia is the favorite to land Prothro with 28.1% odds on the On3 recruiting prediction machine, followed by Auburn (16.5%), Ole Miss (14.2%) and five other teams with 6.0%, including Florida State and Miami. Florida has the worst chance of nine schools in the race with 3.2%, but that could change with the upcoming visit.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Giants vs. Falcons: 4 causes for concern in Week 16

The New York Giants square off in a Sunday afternoon battle against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16. Here are four causes for concern.

The New York Giants will take their nine-game losing streak on the road this Sunday as they face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16.

The Giants opened up as double-digit road underdogs earlier this week despite the Falcons coming off a performance where they struggled against a two-win Las Vegas Raiders team — the only team currently slated to pick ahead of the Giants in the 2025 NFL draft.

Meanwhile, the Giants are coming in losers of nine-straight games and have struggled mightily since the benching and eventual release of quarterback Daniel Jones.

Here are four causes for concern going into Week 16.

Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Falcons running game

Stopping the run has been a problem for the Giants all season long. They are the 31st-ranked team when it comes to opponents’ yards per rush and 26th in opponents’ rushes per game. The Falcons rank 7th in the league in rushes per game. With the Falcons turning to rookie Michael Penix on Sunday, expect a heavy dose of the Falcons running game led by Bijan Robinson.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Kyle Pitts

In recent years, the Giants have really struggled against opposing tight ends. This season, that has not really been an issue until recently. The Giants have given up a touchdown in two straight games and in three of their last five games to opposing tight ends. With the rookie getting his first start at quarterback, he may look for tight end Kyle Pitts early and often against the Giants.

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Michael Penix gets his first start

The Giants had plenty of tape to prepare for Kirk Cousins going into Sunday. However, with the Falcons turning to rookie Michael Penix Jr., there isn’t much pro tape for the Giants to study to prepare for the Falcons rookie.

Penix may be out to prove that the Giants made a big mistake passing on him in the 2024 NFL draft. Many had speculated that Chicago Bears rookie Caleb Williams was coming into the league in the best position for a rookie quarterback given the weapons around him. However, the situation Penix enters in Week 16 for a team with an outside chance of making the playoffs is a strong one in itself, especially against the Giants defense.

Mike Carlson/Getty Images

Giants injury report

The Giants are down to the backups for the backups at many positions at this point in the season. With a laundry list of players on the injury report for Big Blue on top of those already on season-ending injured reserve, the Giants are thin at players at many of their positional units. That does not even mention the constant flipping of quarterback between Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito as the Giants turn back to Lock this week.

[lawrence-related id=737901,737895,737889]

5 Falcons players to watch in Week 13 vs. Chargers

The Falcons have several dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball that could present problems for the Chargers in Week 13.

The Falcons made some big splash moves last offseason, and for the most part, it has paid off. Atlanta leads the lowly NFC South by two games with a 6-5 record.

The Falcons host the Chargers for a huge Week 13 matchup this weekend. Both teams are in the thick of the playoff races in each conference, with Los Angeles likely destined for a Wild Card spot.

Here are five Falcons players that the Chargers must keep an eye on for:

RB Bijan Robinson

Defensive coordinators don’t get the best sleep when they realize they face Bijan Robinson on Sunday. The Texas product is already one of the most dynamic players in the league in just his second NFL season. He has averaged 103.8 scrimmage yards per game this season and seven total touchdowns. He’s also a dynamic threat out of the backfield, as he’s caught 45 passes, fourth-most amongst running backs.

TE Kyle Pitts

Now that Atlanta finally has a competent quarterback, Pitts has been better in 2024. Through 11 games, he has 35 catches for 494 yards and three touchdowns. He’s had just one catch in two of his last three contests, so the Falcons may make it a point of emphasis to get him involved early. Pitts presents a matchup issue due to his unique speed/size combination, and the Chargers will likely use Derwin James to try and slow him down.

OG Chris Lindstrom

Lindstrom has evolved into one of, if not the best, guard in the league. He dominates the line of scrimmage for the Falcons offense, which opens up big lanes for Robinson in the run game. The Chargers defensive line has been stellar recently, so this is another key matchup to watch in Week 13.

LB Nate Landman

Landman has appeared in just seven games, all starts, for the Falcons this season. He’s made quite an impact, though, with three forced fumbles and 52 total tackles in those starts. The undrafted linebacker has made 21 starts over the last two years and has become a legitimate contributor for Atlanta. The Chargers must protect the ball, particularly around Landman.

S Jessie Bates

The Falcons signed Bates to a four-year, $64 million contract in 2023, and he’s been worth every penny. The seventh-veteran has become arguably the best safety in all of football. In 2024, Bates has 70 tackles, two interceptions, six pass deflections, and a career-high four forced fumbles. He’s well on his way to earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, and the Chargers must make sure Bates does not take over the game on Sunday.

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 13 opponent: Falcons

Here are some important things to know about the Falcons ahead of the Week 13 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are on the road to face the Falcons on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 10:00 a.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 13 bout, here are a few key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Falcons are 6-5 on the season. They’re in first place in the NFC South.

Prolific passing offense

The Falcons made an offseason move to acquire quarterback Kirk Cousins, which has seemed to pay dividends. Atlanta ranks No. 5 in passing offense, averaging 243.6 yards per game. They’re eighth in yards per play (7.8). Cousins’ top targets, Darnell Mooney and Drake London, have over 700 receiving yards.

Beware of Bijan

Running back Bijan Robinson is another skill player the Chargers need to account for at all times. Robinson is good on the ground and can catch the ball. He has over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.

Not so good on the other side of the ball

The Falcons have struggled on defense this season. They’re allowing 24.9 points per game, which ranks 25th. Atlanta is 19th against the run and 26th against the pass. The Falcons have ten sacks through 11 games, the fewest in the league.

Look out for…

Robinson. The Chargers struggled to stop the run last week against the Ravens, and they will have a tall task against Robinson, who has proven to be electric on the ground.

Where does Kyle Pitts rank among NFL tight ends entering Week 9?

Where does Kyle Pitts rank among the NFL’s top tight ends entering Week 9 of the 2024 season?

One of the many reasons that Falcons fans were excited to see the team sign quarterback Kirk Cousins over the offseason was the impact it could have on talented tight end Kyle Pitts.

The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft entered the league with massive expectations and lived up to them during his first year. Pitts topped 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie but his production took a big hit when the team traded away quarterback Matt Ryan. 

After two forgettable seasons in 2022 and 2023, the fourth-year tight end has been solid through the first eight games of 2024. Pitts has 29 catches, 419 receiving yards, and three touchdowns.

He’s on track for 62 catches, 890 receiving yards and six touchdowns. So where does Pitts rank among the NFL’s top tight ends through the first eight weeks of the season?

NFL TEs ranked by yardage entering Week 9

  1. Brock Bowers: 535 yards
  2. George Kittle: 503 yards
  3. Trey McBride: 446 yards
  4. Kyle Pitts: 419 yards
  5. Hunter Henry: 358 yards
  6. Zach Ertz: 345 yards
  7. Cade Otton: 344 yards
  8. Tucker Kraft: 342 yards
  9. Travis Kelce: 335 yards
  10. Cole Kmet: 303 yards
  11. Dallas Goedert: 301 yards
  12. Dalton Kincaid: 300 yards
  13. Noah Fant: 285 yards
  14. Sam LaPorta: 272 yards
  15. Isaiah Likely: 271 yards
  16. Pat Freiermuth: 264 yards
  17. Mark Andrews: 263 yards
  18. Jake Ferguson: 263 yards
  19. Jonnu Smith: 256 yards
  20. Mike Gesicki: 253 yards
  21. Dalton Schultz: 244 yards
  22. Tyler Conklin: 237 yards
  23. Will Dissly: 233 yards
  24. David Njoku: 226 yards
  25. Colby Parkinson: 216 yards
  26. Noah Gray: 208 yards
  27. Brenton Strange: 190 yards
  28. Grant Calcaterra: 186 yards
  29. Juwan Johnson: 184 yards
  30. Evan Engram: 178 yards
  31. Ja’Tavion Sanders: 158 yards
  32. Foster Moreau: 150 yards

Pitts and the Falcons will host the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 9. 

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]

A new camera angle showed that Kyle Pitts almost definitely fumbled before the goal line on his TD catch

Look away, Bucs fans.

Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts had a long-awaited breakout game in Sunday’s Week 8 matchup against the Buccaneers. He hauled in two touchdowns with 91 receiving yards — a great day overall for him. But it could have gone so differently had the Fox broadcast stationed a camera along the goal line.

Pitts got away with one.

In the second quarter, Pitts scored his second touchdown of the game on an impressive 49-yard catch and run to the end zone. But as the Falcons tight end approached the goal line, he slowed down just enough for Antoine Winfield Jr. to get a hand on the football. The ruling on the field was touchdown, and the only replay angles Fox had were from several yards behind the play.

Fox 13 reporter Sean Barie, though, had the shot. And Bucs fans should probably look away.

While it was super close, we can see that Winfield Jr. knocked the ball loose just before Pitts crossed the plane. And if the officials had that camera look, we probably would have been looking at a touchback for the Bucs instead of a second touchdown for Pitts.

Every NFL game should have a pylon cam, and that play proved why. A lack of camera angles served as a major advantage to the Falcons.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1371]

Kyle Pitts thanks ‘Tight End Gods’ after avoiding disastrous mistake

Kyle Pitts thanks ‘Tight End Gods’ after avoiding disastrous mistake in win over Buccaneers..

Kyle Pitts celebrated National Tight Ends Day with a memorable performance in the Atlanta Falcons’ 31-26 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Pitts put the Falcons on the board with a 36-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter before topping it with an even more impressive touchdown in the second quarter. He stiff-armed a Bucs defender and ran away from the defense for a 49-yard score.

However, Pitts’ second touchdown nearly had a disastrous result. While crossing the goal line, he began celebrating a bit too early and Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield smacked the ball out of his hands.

The play was reviewed and referees determined that Pitts crossed the goal line before the ball came out, but it nearly took the touchdown off the board.

Pitts was grateful his mistake didn’t cost the team and after the game, he thanked the “Tight End Gods” on Twitter.

The fourth-year tight end had arguably the best game of his career on Sunday, finishing with four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns in Atlanta’s thrilling win over Tampa Bay.

For the season, Pitts has 29 catches for 419 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The 24-year-old is starting to display the speed and athleticism that got him drafted fourth overall in 2021.

[lawrence-related id=149017,148904,148909,149088,149085]