The long-term future of Kyle Pitts was bound to gain more attention. Given the uncertainty surrounding Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot, it seemed realistic that the discussions about re-signing the unique playmaker would wait until decisions were made on the current regime. The wait abruptly ended following his sensational performance last Thursday night.
What Pitts did against Tampa Bay opened plenty of eyes and generated immediate conversations about his future. That’s what being the first tight
end to produce over 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a game since Shannon Sharpe in Week 6 of the 1996 season will do for you.
As exceptional as the former fourth overall pick was, it was only his fourth career 100-yard game. The first three occurred in his rookie season. While Pitts had multi-game stretches of producing more than 75 yards in 2023 and 2024, it had been a long time since he truly took over a game. Some of it can be attributed to having to cope with below-average to non-viable NFL quarterback play. There were many instances where Arthur Smith and Zac Robinson assembled game plans that simply didn’t involve him. For all the personnel and schematic issues around him, Pitts had his own issues that derailed his progression following his impressive rookie season.
He endured lingering knee injuries between 2022 and 2024. It was evident that the explosiveness wasn’t there with how he was trying to get in and out of breaks. His inability to run past or evade defenders after the catch limited his impact when receiving short targets in the middle of the field. Those days of being limited appear to be over for the polarizing tight end. Pitts has looked more explosive in stretching the field and dangerous after the catch this season. There is a tenacity to his game that had been lacking.
Besides struggling in November, he has been a difference maker all year. That leads to a new hot topic surrounding the Falcons that doesn’t involve the head coach, general manager, or quarterback. Should Pitts be re-signed to a lucrative deal? Here are the reasons to commit to him, while considering why it may be best to let him play elsewhere.
All in
The type of explosiveness, athleticism, and positional versatility Pitts possesses is hard to find at the tight end position. Combining those attributes with a more aggressive mentality leads to a potential 1,000-yard season. Pitts set the tone from the start of the season by creating separation against man coverage and gaining yards after the catch. Standout plays against Tampa Bay and Minnesota translated into a complete performance against Washington. What makes Pitts’ resurgent season most encouraging is finding comfort as an in-line tight end.
Per Pro Football Focus, the former Pro Bowler has already played 229 snaps as an inline tight end. That is already a career high with three games remaining in the season. The way Pitts has acclimated to playing as a more traditional tight end provides more high-percentage looks for him to be involved in the game plan while creating more personnel flexibility. Although he can be effective in the slot and pose a threat on the outside, his ability to play in-line allows more 12 and 13 personnel sets to be used.
That usually translates into him being the primary option on play-action shots downfield, which the Falcons have been effective in using more often with Kirk Cousins under center. The Rams and Bills have overwhelmed opposing defenses with multi-tight end sets. Following a similar blueprint with a tight end like Pitts and a capable blocker can produce greater mismatches for a passing game in need of a total reconstruction.
Pitts has gained 338 receiving yards in the last three games. There is a structured plan to get him the ball in high-leverage situations and maximize his dynamic skill set. It’s clear what he is capable of when he is featured in the game plan, and the quarterback can make accurate throws. That should provide optimism toward a brighter future as Pitts begins to enter his prime. Not many tight ends in the league can take over a game like he did last Thursday night. Accelerating past defensive backs, whether across the field or vertically, showcased his capabilities as a multidimensional playmaker who can stretch opponents and produce explosive plays in a plethora of ways. While there are some frustrating lapses at times, numerous coaches will value his strengths far more than be turned off by his weaknesses in pursuing him this upcoming offseason if the Falcons don’t commit to him.
Moving on and starting fresh
The down-to-down consistency is still not where it should be for a player of his caliber. There are many instances where Pitts loses concentration or gives up on a play too easily. It can be on a route where he is well-covered and doesn’t want to fight for the ball. It happens on screens where he is out of position as a blocker and doesn’t attempt to prevent the defender from closing in on the intended receiving target. The attention to detail is lacking in too many instances. That’s a major reason behind him being penalized a career-high seven times this season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Pitts has currently six contested catches on 15 contested targets for a rate of 40%. That’s his best rate since his rookie season. Yet for his improvement in a crucial aspect of a tight end’s game, he leaves too many big plays on the table. He had critical shortcomings against New England, Indianapolis, and Seattle, where the ball was perfectly placed for him to win downfield in a contested area. What should have been 30-yard completions or even potential touchdowns ended up falling incomplete because he wasn’t strong enough at the catch point. Not being able to use his athletic gifts and big frame more reliably becomes frustrating over time.
The lack of consistent production falls more on poor quarterback play and questionable coaching than on his overall play. There is no denying how Pitts has been mismanaged from 2022 to 2024. That shouldn’t preclude the front office from questioning if he is worth building around long-term. Does it make sense to invest in a player who needs to be heavily involved in an ideal infrastructure to be productive? Shouldn’t top players be able to adjust and still be dangerous when they aren’t being utilized as one of the primary options?
Those are valid questions for a passing game that will be revamped, given Michael Penix Jr.’s uncertain outlook going into 2026 and the lack of playmaking wide receivers. Pitts still has lingering issues, battling with inconsistency as a pass catcher and being undisciplined as a blocker. Revamping the pass-catching group with a completely new supporting cast around Drake London may be the wisest decision.
Franchise tag flexibility
Although it would represent some form of commitment, inserting the franchise tag on Pitts would be a practical decision. That allows the organization time to assess if he can build on his resurgent season. Committing to a player long-term who has only produced two seasons of high-level performance is risky. Letting go of a player who appears to be ascending, as he approaches his prime, can be costly.
The front office can’t let go of several key players and give up on 2026. It’s impossible not to be competitive in the NFC South. The Saints are the latest example of proving that by sweeping the Panthers and beating the Bucs on the road. This division is always there for the taking, no matter how much the Falcons have repeatedly wasted golden opportunities to end their playoff drought. With the lack of draft capital and free agency not being the same, it becomes more imperative to ensure talent under 30 years old remains on the roster. That’s what makes the urge to keep Pitts even higher.
The decision shouldn’t be a foregone conclusion, especially with a new coaching staff potentially on the horizon. Valuing homegrown talent sensibly is how teams prosper. How those players align with what the team is building, both schematically and culturally, is most important in determining their long-term future. While it’s certainly expensive to use the franchise tag on any player, Pitts is more than worthy of committing to for at least one more year to see if he can continue playing consistently at a high level as one of the league’s more unique playmakers, one with a skill set that few tight ends can replicate.
