Trade Again? Cowboys seen as potential suitors for $33 million TE who may be on market

USA Today

5 days ago

Trade Again? Cowboys seen as potential suitors for $33 million TE who may be on market
It seems like a lifetime ago, but Dallas Cowboys fans had a relentless infatuation with drafting TE Kyle Pitts. In the pandemic draft of 2021, there wasn't a more intriguing "can't miss" prospect than the 6-foot-6 tight end from Florida, whose insane athleticism was the polar opposite to what the team had at the position.
Reports surfaced this week that the Falcons were receiving trade offers for Pitts, who like draft classmate Micah Parsons, is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2025. After a Pro Bowl rookie season in which he caught 68 passes for over 1,000 receiving yards, Pitts hasn't blossomed as many hoped. In fact he's regressed statistically, never topping 700 yards in any subsequent campaign.
For those who think the issue is the Falcons offense, Pitts may represent a chance to unleash unrealized potential. In that vein, CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin identified several potential trade partners, and the team that's swung four different trades this offseason came up among possible suitors.
Jerry Jones stayed quiet for much of the offseason, only to roar back to form with the George Pickens trade in May. If we're collecting malcontents to maximize Dak Prescott's chances of getting the 'Boys back in the dance under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, then why not add Pitts as well? The Cowboys could use a more dynamic complement to holdover Jake Ferguson at tight end, and they've still got $30 million to spare. As a bonus, Micah Parsons' brother suggested this deal for Dallas not long ago.
The wayback machine invokes memories of the Cowboys' organization allowing future Hall of Famer Jason Witten to un-retire for one last run, after sitting out 2018, to plod through 2019. Dalton Schultz replaced Witten as the starter the following year, playing fourth fiddle in the passing game behind Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb. Pitts was the elixir to that legacy-tarnishing image, an intriguing pass catcher who was thought to be the next great hero at the position and who would pair with Lamb to be the team's dynamic duo.
Pitts never made it to Dallas' pick at No. 10, instead snatched up by the Atlanta Falcons at No. 4 while the Cowboys had to "settle" for Parsons. And now, five years later, it appears the Cowboys have a chance to land Pitts again, this time via trade.
As the former No. 4 pick, Pitts has already earned just under $33 million in salary and is set to make $10.8 million in 2025 salary. The Cowboys currently have over $31 million in available cap space for the season.
Also mentioned as potential suitors are the Jacksonville Jaguars and fellow NFC East rival the New York Giants. In a recent look at divisional position rankings, the Cowboys and Giants brought up the rear. Jake Ferguson had what some consider the worst statistical season in TE history, and the club has yet to realize a return on their second-round investment in Luke Schoonmaker from the 2023 draft class.