Falcons’ former first-round pick called worst in five years—team should’ve drafted $145 million Cowboys star

The last five NFL Drafts have significantly shaped the Atlanta Falcons' current roster — especially their first-round picks.

Until the 2025 draft, the Falcons went offense-heavy with their first-round selections, including last year’s biggest surprise: drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall.

That offensive trend began in 2021, when Atlanta used the No. 8 pick to select tight end Kyle Pitts.

Pitts was the first pick under former head coach Arthur Smith and became the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history. At the time, the former Florida Gator was seen as a can’t-miss prospect — the next elite target for veteran quarterback Matt Ryan.

But Pitts hasn’t lived up to that lofty billing. That’s why Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder recently named him the Falcons’ worst draft pick of the last five years.

“The Falcons haven’t had many first-round misses over the last five years, almost making Pitts the worst selection by default,” Holder wrote. “However, just ask any of his fantasy owners how frustrating the tight end’s lack of production has been. He went from logging 1,000 yards as a rookie to being below 700 yards in each of the last three seasons.”

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What makes the pick sting even more, according to Holder, is who was still available when Atlanta selected Pitts. Among those names: Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, and Patrick Surtain. However, if they could re-draft, Holder believes they should have picked current Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons.

"The reason Parsons would be the best selection for Atlanta is that the defense has been desperately looking for some pass-rushing help over the last few years. The Penn State product’s 52.5 sacks over the last four seasons would have greatly helped the unit as a whole,” Holder added.

Atlanta finally made pass rush a priority in this year’s draft, selecting Georgia’s Jalon Walker at No. 15 overall, then trading back into the first round to grab Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr.

Had the Falcons drafted Parsons back in 2021, they’d now be facing the challenge of paying him. Parsons is currently projected to become one of the highest-paid defensive players in NFL history (four years, $145 million, per Spotrac).

Meanwhile, Pitts' future in Atlanta remains uncertain. The Falcons have reportedly been receiving calls about his availability this offseason. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz believes that trading Pitts could be the final move Atlanta needs to make before the season begins, listing the Jets, Giants, and Eagles as potential landing spots.

“Pitts has never matched the heights of his 1,026-yard rookie season, nor has he matched expectations as the No. 4 overall pick,” Schatz wrote. “It's very unlikely that the Falcons extend or re-sign him after the 2025 season, so perhaps the best thing is to get some value for him now and let him see what he can do with a change of scenery.”