Latest news with #Falcons
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Atlanta Falcons star Kyle Pitts suddenly available for shock offseason trade, NFL insider claims
The highest drafted tight end in the history of the NFL could be available for as little as a second- or third-round pick, according ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler. Kyle Pitts, the 24-year-old Atlanta Falcons star and fourth-overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft, is entering his fifth and final season of his rookie contract. And without an extension in place, the former Florida Gators star is naturally going to be mentioned in trade rumors. But while Fowler reports the Falcons are not eagerly shopping Pitts, there is a growing belief around the league that the 6-foot-6, 246-pound speedster could be available for the right price. 'I don't think it's a situation where [the Falcons] are aggressively shopping [Pitts],' Fowler said Saturday. 'But it appears, talking to some other teams, they think Atlanta is at least open to the possibility and Pitts might be as well.' Fowler stressed that Pitts is not 'requesting a trade,' but added, 'if he has a chance to go to maybe a better offense where he's more featured—he's sort of the third or fourth wheel right now in Atlanta —it could be something that he's open to.' In 2021, Pitts became just the second rookie tight end to record 1,000 receiving yards, but has struggled to build on that success amid frequent turnover with the Falcons offense. Michael Penix Jr. enters the season as the Falcons' starting quarterback after replacing veteran Kirk Cousins, the veteran who signed a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta in 2024, only to be benched in favor of the rookie. Cousins was absent from organized team activities in Atlanta last week. 'His a** doesn't want to be there,' one fan reacted online, echoing a sentiment felt by many others. Cousins, who turns 37 in mid-August, has been visible at the team's offseason workouts prior to Tuesday. The Falcons reportedly are open to listening to trade offers for Cousins, who would have to waive his no-trade clause. While Cousins is holding out hope for a starter's role with another team, the Falcons likely are waiting until after June 1 to trade the quarterback. Should that be the case, the team will be on the hook for a $12.5 million dead cap charge. Cousins has been mentioned in trade rumors, although it's unclear if there's a QB-hungry team willing to take on his salary. The Pittsburgh Steelers are one potential destination as they wait for free agent Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind on his NFL future. Cousins threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 starts last season. The Falcons started the season 6-3, but a nosedive Cousins told NFL Network coincided with a shoulder injury prompted Morris to turn the offense over to Penix with three games left in the regular season. Penix went 1-2.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger isn't a fan of trading for Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger isn't a fan of trading for Falcons QB Kirk Cousins Steelers legend QB Ben Roethlisberger isn't a fan of trading for Falcons QB Kirk Cousins. Multiple insiders have linked Cousins as the Steelers' ideal Plan B if their Plan A — Aaron Rodgers — retires in 2025. On the most recent episode of his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, co-host Spencer Te'o and Big Ben's personal chef discussed the possibility of Pittsburgh acquiring Cousins — which had the former Steelers QB shaking his head in disapproval. When Te'o asked Chef Evan and Big Ben if they liked the idea of trading for Cousins, here's what Roethlisberger had to say: "I would've [liked trading for Cousins] earlier, but not now at this point." Earlier in the episode, Roethlisberger had argued that the trade was seemingly possible due to Atlanta's desire for trade partners to eat over $20 million of Cousins' guaranteed money. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Commanders hope to benefit from continuity on Dan Quinn's staff in 2025
What is one of the really bright spots for the Commanders this offseason?It's easy to always look to the draft and talk about the players selected in your team's draft. However, isn't every team optimistic this time of year, thinking (and hoping) that the players they have selected are a good fit for their team and that the improvement will show up this upcoming season? Commanders fans are certainly not immune to this. It is simply natural to hope so strongly in your team that you are optimistic about the about when you look at the coaches? Dan Quinn being selected as head coach certainly did not ignite the fan base with excitement. In fact, there was as much scrutiny as hopeful anticipation regarding Quinn. But that wasn't his fault. Fans unfairly brought up the 28-3 halftime lead the Falcons blew in the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. But fans could have just as easily looked at the other side of the coin and been happy to have a coach who had led his team to a Super was also some skepticism regarding defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., who had not been a coordinator previously. The defense was suspect at best in many games last season. The Commanders' front office knew Whitt needs some studs, and moves like bringing in corner Marshon Lattimore, defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, and the drafting of corner Trey Amos are expected to help Whitt's going unnoticed is that the Commanders bring back every single coach on Dan Quinn's staff from the 2024 season. I suppose someone could negatively respond that this is not necessarily a good thing. But yes, NFL teams were seeking to hire Kliff Kingsbury and David Blough this could be a big plus for the Commanders in terms of continuity and not needing to give time for a position coach to bring in his new schemes or unfamiliar language/vocabulary. It also points to the fact that the head coach of the Commanders, Dan Quinn, is skilled in how he relates to this staff. He is not simply their boss, though that is an important boundary to maintain. Quinn relates well enough that it appears each and every member of his staff wanted to return for means not only will the same coaches be in place this season, but they will also have the same roles they had in Quinn's first season in Washington. This is significant because coaches often remain but may or may not be as prepared for a different role when given that new everyone like to talk about how any move affects or helps Jayden Daniels, then having his entire offensive coaching staff return in the same roles for Daniels' second NFL season certainly looks to be a major blessing for Daniels, don't you think?This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders banking on continuity in 2025 season
USA Today
15 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
5 Kyle Pitts trade destinations (Eagles!) if the Falcons move on from the tight end
5 Kyle Pitts trade destinations (Eagles!) if the Falcons move on from the tight end While it's not necessarily a lock to happen, the Atlanta Falcons and tight end Kyle Pitts are reportedly both open to a trade that would send the former fourth overall draft pick elsewhere. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler confirmed the possibility of a trade on Saturday, first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Schultz shared earlier this week that teams have called Atlanta about the possibility of a trade, though Atlanta would reportedly prefer to keep Pitts and would need a Day 2 pick at least to make things serious. While Pitts has yet to fully live up to his stellar 2021 rookie season, he hauled in 602 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in his fourth NFL season last fall. As Pitts is only 24, he still has plenty of room to grow. The Falcons could always keep Pitts around to help quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in his first year as a starter, but a trade seems more likely than ever. Let's run through five possible options for Pitts and Atlanta. Pittsburgh Steelers If Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith wants to reunite with his former first-round tight end, the Falcons could send Pitts to Pittsburgh to play with, well, whoever the quarterback is there this year. The Steelers could pair Pitts with Pat Freiermuth to give Pittsburgh a real one-two punch at tight end. Pittsburgh could send tight end Darnell Washington back to Atlanta as part of a trade package to get this done. POSSIBLE TRADE: Pitts to Pittsburgh for Washington and a 2026 fourth-round pick Dallas Cowboys The Cowboys have already traded for wide receiver George Pickens this month, but adding Pitts to Dallas' offense would give it even more firepower. The Cowboys could unlock more of Pitts' potential by making him a featured part of their offense, since it certainly looks like Dallas will be a pass-happy team this fall. Former second-round tight end Luke Schoonmaker could be a trade candidate back for the Falcons. POSSIBLE TRADE: Pitts and a 2027 sixth-round pick to Dallas for Schoonmaker and a 2026 fourth-round pick Philadelphia Eagles The Eagles already have tight end Dallas Goedert on the roster, but Philly has the draft capital to make the Falcons an offer it couldn't refuse if the team really wanted to add Pitts to the roster. With a plethora of draft picks going into 2026, the Eagles could offer one of its third-round picks to see if that gets the job done. That would be the most Atlanta would get in draft compensation if Pitts left as a free agent next spring, anyhow. POSSIBLE TRADE: Pitts to Philadelphia for a 2026 third-round pick If the Titans wanted to get quarterback Cam Ward an exciting new passing option, Pitts could walk into Tennessee and make an early case for being the team's top passing option after wide receiver Calvin Ridley. The Titans have the draft capital to make this happen in the same fashion as the Eagles, but the team could throw in tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo to keep the draft return low. POSSIBLE TRADE: Pitts to Tennessee for Okonkwo and a 2026 sixth-round pick Miami Dolphins The Dolphins have reportedly been in talks to trade tight end Jonnu Smith, and Pitts could be Miami's perfect replacement at tight end who could thrive in Mike McDaniel's pass-first offense. If McDaniel could unlock Pitts' full potential, this could be a huge boost to a Miami team that needs to make a real playoff push in 2025. POSSIBLE TRADE: Pitts to Miami for a 2026 third-round pick
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Falcons' Darnell Mooney: 'I didn't come here for 1,000 yards; I came here to win'
Wide receiver Darnell Mooney is entering his second season with the Atlanta Falcons, and he has one goal in mind: winning. "I didn't really come here [to Atlanta] for 1,000 yards. I came here to win," Mooney said Friday, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "So, for, you know, anybody that's like creating that as a top tier for the receivers, that's not what I came here to do. I came here to win games." Mooney totaled 64 receptions for 992 yards (a career-high 15.5 yards per reception) and a career-high five touchdowns last season. He ranked 36th among wide receivers with a 74.0 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Mooney missed one game due to a shoulder injury, which was a Week 18 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Mooney offered up analysis on his 2024 performance. "I did pretty well with the deep routes, and the biggest thing that I want to do is catch the ball and take something to the [end zone]," Mooney said. "Make at least three people miss, have some exciting plays." Mooney is entering the second season of a three-year, $39 million deal with the Falcons. The receiver spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Chicago Bears (2020-23), where he totaled 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns in 2021. Granted, Mooney averaged just 36 receptions for 454 receiving yards per season from 2022-23. Mooney is part of a Falcons' pass-catching corps that includes wide receivers Drake London — who totaled a career high in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,271) and receiving touchdowns (nine) in 2024 — and Ray-Ray McCloud (career-high with both 62 receptions and 686 receiving yards in 2024) and tight end Kyle Pitts. Atlanta also has star running back Bijan Robinson, who earned a Pro Bowl nod last season after rushing for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns, while tallying 431 receiving yards. Atlanta benched veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins for Michael Penix Jr., selected with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Washington, after 14 games. The Falcons went 1-2 with Penix under center and missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record. That said, Penix is Atlanta's future at quarterback, and Mooney is enthusiastic about what's to come with the second-year signal-caller. "He throws the ball very, very far," Mooney said about Penix. "He has a strong arm. He can get it out whenever he needs to. Like, if it feels like he's late, he won't be late. He can get the ball there in time." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League Atlanta Falcons Darnell Mooney recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
