The Atlanta Falcons are finally in a position where they are widely regarded as a potential playoff team. The recent NFL Draft in April went about as well as it could have for them. The Falcons managed to acquire two defensive players who excel at getting to the quarterback—especially at the college level.
However, in order to draft James Pearce, the Falcons traded away their first-round pick in next year’s draft. It was certainly an aggressive move, and if Michael Penix Jr. doesn’t pan out, Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald believes it may not have been the right decision.
“I really wish they had held on to that first round pick. Really, we’re giving away the first round pick right now? I don’t know if he will be consistent enough to be good,” McDonald said.
Atlanta had been searching for a trade partner for Kirk Cousins throughout the offseason, but now attention seems to have shifted to Kyle Pitts. Pitts is entering the final year of his contract, and for now, the Falcons are reportedly seeking at least a Day 2 draft pick in return.
“Multiple teams have reached out to the Falcons about the availability of TE Kyle Pitts.” While Schultz notes that “nothing is imminent” and Atlanta would still prefer to keep him, it would reportedly take “at least a Day 2 pick to even spark serious talks,” NFL Insider Jordan Schultz wrote.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler appeared on SportsCenter, where he discussed what might be motivating Pitts to consider a trade—a possibility that could concern Falcons fans.
“I don't think it's a situation where [the Falcons] are aggressively shopping [Pitts],” Fowler said Saturday on SportsCenter. “But it appears, talking to some other teams, they think Atlanta is at least open to the possibility and Pitts might be as well. I'm told he loves Atlanta, this is not a situation where he's requesting a trade, but if he has a chance to go to maybe a better offense where he's more featured.”
If Pitts is considering leaving due to the offensive system, that’s a significant criticism of the Falcons and their young, exciting offense.
