Kyle Pitts's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

The Atlanta Falcons picked up the 2025 fifth-year option on tight end Kyle Pitts on Monday, according to a source. Although the former fourth overall pick in 2021 out of Florida hasn't exactly lived up to his draft status, there's no way the Falcons weren't going to pick up his option. Pitts was a Pro Bowler in his rookie year, when he went for over 1,000 yards receiving, but he played in only 10 games due to injury in 2022 and has underwhelmed with six total touchdowns in his three NFL seasons. Atlanta's QB situation hasn't helped his cause, though. With a new coaching staff in town and with quarterback Kirk Cousins running the offense in 2024, Pitts' fantasy stock is trending up despite back-to-back disappointing campaigns.

Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said that the team has a lot of faith in tight end Kyle Pitts now that he's fully healthy. Pitts played in all 17 games last year, but he wasn't fully healthy for much of the season after recovering from an MCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered in Week 11 of 2022. The 23-year-old former first-rounder had a frustrating 53-667-3 line in 2023, but he's already looking like a tight end to target in 2024 fantasy drafts. Not only will Pitts be another year beyond his knee injury, but Jonnu Smith is now gone, and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is expected to use Pitts all over the field this year. Pitts will be relatively cheap in drafts, too, so he's shaping up as an excellent value play. However, at the end of the day, how productive Pitts will be could depend on what quarterback Atlanta brings in.

Atlanta Falcons new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson sees tight end Kyle Pitts as very versatile. He's mainly been used in the passing game and had 667 receiving yards on 53 catches in his third NFL season in 2023. Pitts can also be an asset when it comes to blocking in the running game, too. "We're not oblivious to the fact of his skill sets, what he does bring to the team from a receiving standpoint, so there are a lot of things that you can do to be creative and use his skill set in the pass game," new tight ends coach Kevin Koger said. "But with him and the way we're going to run the ball and the athleticism he does have, there are a lot of things he can do in the run game to help us out to win football games." It sounds like Pitts is going to be moved around a lot, and the new coaching staff should be able to use him more effectively than Arthur Smith did in his three years with Pitts on the team.

New Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson expressed his excitement about working with both running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts in 2024, but he didn't go into specifics about how they'd be used. "I view those guys as versatile," Robinson said. "We will have formational versatility to move them all over and try to get the most out of what they do." Former head coach Arthur Smith was often criticized for not employing Robinson and Pitts the right way last year. Robinson, a first-round pick, fell just short of 1,000 rushing yards but made up for it with 58 catches, 487 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season. Pitts, also a former first-rounder, worked mostly out of the slot and finished with 53 catches, 667 yards and three TDs. With what's expected to be a much more aggressive offense under Robinson, both Robinson and Pitts will be more attractive in fantasy.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts suffered a PCL injury beyond the MCL repair in his right knee, which ended his 2022 season. Pitts said his knee is feeling better and he considers it a success that he was able to play all 17 games in 2023. He was targeted 90 times and had 53 catches for 667 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. He had four games over 50-plus receiving yards and five games with under 30 yards. It was far from his rookie season, when he had 68 catches for 1,026 yards and a touchdown, but considering his major knee injury the year prior, it wasn't all that bad. Heading into his fourth NFL campaign, he'll have a new head coach, which could mean a different role entirely. Depending on who the Falcons bring in, Pitts could end up being a sneaky value target at the tight end position in 2024 fantasy drafts.