Latest news with #Pitts
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Kyle Pitts landing spots: Chargers, Titans best fits if Falcons trade TE
Kyle Pitts landing spots: Chargers, Titans best fits if Falcons trade TE Show Caption Hide Caption Greg Olsen believes Travis Kelce 'controls how he leaves the game' Former NFL tight end Greg Olsen has high praise for Travis Kelce and shares when he believes Travis Kelce will eventually retire from the NFL. Sports Seriously Kyle Pitts is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Will the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft remain in Atlanta for the entirety of the 2025 NFL season? Multiple teams have reached out to the Falcons about the possibility of trading for Pitts, per Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz. Atlanta would prefer to keep Pitts but would consider moving the 24-year-old for a Day 2 pick. Pitts' production hasn't quite lived up to his top-five status. He recorded a 1,000-yard season as a rookie but hasn't eclipsed 667 yards in three seasons since. He has just 10 career receiving touchdowns, though he logged a career-high four in 2024, a season during which he logged 47 catches for 602 yards and graded as Pro Football Focus' 44th tight end among 74 qualifiers. Given Pitts' youth – he won't turn 25 until October – and with his hyper-athletic 6-6 frame, several teams around the NFL could consider bringing the Florida product into the fold in hopes of tapping into his potential. Here's a look at the top landing spots if Atlanta decides to move Pitts. Justin Herbert loves throwing to his tight ends, as 23% of the Chargers' 491 total targets last season went to players at the position. The Chargers have a couple of solid, veteran tight ends on the roster in Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin, but they could use a higher-ceiling player like Pitts to add upside to the room. Cam Ward thrived throwing to Elijah Arroyo – a 6-5, mismatch weapon – during his lone season at Miami. The Titans have similarly sized threats in Josh Whyle (6-6) and rookie Gunnar Helm (6-5) on the roster, but Pitts is more athletic than the duo of recent mid-round picks. It's also worth noting new general manager Mike Borgonzi was not a part of the front office that selected Whyle or current starter Chig Okonkwo (6-3, 238 pounds). That could lead Tennessee to search for a veteran upgrade as it looks to support Ward during his rookie season. The Patriots are building around Drake Maye but don't have many proven weapons at the position. One way to mitigate those issues would be to run a lot of two-tight-end sets, something new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has done successfully throughout his career. Pairing Pitts with Hunter Henry would give New England a dynamic tight end duo. The Patriots still have a league-high $67.3 million in cap space, per so they could afford to absorb Pitts' deal and sign him to an extension. STEFON DIGGS: Mike Vrabel says Patriots 'aware of' boat video Here's another AFC East option for Pitts. The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly had trade discussions with the Dolphins surrounding veteran tight end Jonnu Smith. If Miami moves Smith, that would leave Pharaoh Brown and Julian Hill as the team's top options at the position. Pitts would provide a suitable replacement for Smith and would add much-needed size to a receiving corps that features the smaller-stature duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Sean Payton is always looking for players to operate in the "Joker" position on his offense. The role is designated for hybrid players who can create mismatches across the defense by lining up in various formations. The Broncos already acquired one "Joker" in the offseason by signing tight end Evan Engram. Why not make it two by adding Pitts? It's easy to imagine him unlocking his full potential given how Payton was able to develop Jimmy Graham – perhaps Payton's most notable "Joker" – into an All-Pro talent. The Eagles were able to keep Dallas Goedert for the 2025 NFL season despite rumors he could be traded. That said, he is set to turn 31 in January and will be a free agent following the season. Pitts' contract will expire after the season as well, but Howie Roseman could still target younger tight end as a potential successor for Goedert.
USA Today
a day 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
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Trade Again? Cowboys seen as potential suitors for $33 million TE who may be on market
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.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts drawing trade interest from NFL teams, per report
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts drawing trade interest from NFL teams, per report Show Caption Hide Caption NFL players can now partake in Olympic flag football Olympic flag football, which will make it's debut at the 2028 summer games, just got bumped up a level after the NFL agreed to let its players partake. Sports Pulse Starting May 27, the Atlanta Falcons are back in pads for the first week of organized team activities (OTAs). Atlanta's entering Year 2 under coach Raheem Morris following an 8-9 campaign in 2024 that saw them miss the playoffs for the seventh year in a row. The offense took a step forward to become a top-10 unit by yards under the new coaching staff despite starting two quarterbacks during the season in veteran Kirk Cousins and rookie Michael Penix. The Falcons were aggressive in the 2025 NFL Draft by trading back into the first round to select edge rusher James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee after selecting Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker earlier in the round. A new report says that might not be the last big move they make this offseason. Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reports that multiple teams have reached out to the Falcons about trading for tight end Kyle Pitts. Schultz's report states the Falcons would like to keep the former No. 4 overall pick and it would take at least a Day 2 draft pick for Atlanta to be interested. No teams were specified in his report to be interested in Pitts. Pitts made the Pro Bowl as a rookie with 68 catches for 1,025 yards and one touchdown on 110 targets. He has yet to meet those marks in catches and yards since then. He did produce a career-high four touchdowns in 2024. Atlanta picked up Pitts' fifth-year option last offseason to secure his services for 2025. He'll be making $10.878 million against the salary cap this season but, at the time of this publishing, does not have an extension keeping him in Atlanta beyond 2025.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL insider: Falcons TE Kyle Pitts drawing trade interest from multiple teams
NFL insider: Falcons TE Kyle Pitts drawing trade interest from multiple teams Multiple NFL teams looking to trade for Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, per report According to a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Atlanta Falcons have been contacted by multiple teams regarding the availability of fifth-year tight end Kyle Pitts. The former No. 4 overall pick is entering the final year of his contract and his stock is at an all-time low. Schultz is reporting that the Falcons would prefer to keep Pitts and that it would require at least a Day 2 draft pick for them to seriously entertain moving their starting tight end. Pitts, 24, had NFL scouts calling him a unicorn ahead of the 2021 NFL draft. Despite a promising rookie year in which he topped 1,000 receiving yards, Pitts has been slow to replicate that success over the last three seasons. There is some hope around the organization that Pitts could bounce back with Penix starting at quarterback this season. On the other hand, some are worried the team could lose the former top-five pick for nothing at the end of the year. Pitts is due $10.8 million this season, which ranks eighth on the team in terms of cap hits for 2025. While a trade would be tempting if the price is right, it would also leave Atlanta without a starting tight end. The team has a quality blocking tight end in Charlie Woerner, but he isn't much of a receiving threat. Moving Pitts would also allow opposing teams to focus more on slowing wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson. With Penix set to take over as the starting quarterback, it might not be a wise move to trade one of his weapons. Since joining the team in 2021, Pitts has recorded 196 catches for 2,651 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. While he may not be the difference maker Atlanta thought it was getting after his rookie season, Pitts is the same age as Penix and already proven he can put up elite numbers in the right situation. The Falcons would certainly like to acquire more draft capital, however, trading a contributor for a future Day 2 pick doesn't really help the team in 2025, nor does it go along with the win-now attitude that caused Terry Fontenot to trade a future first-round pick for James Pearce Jr.
