The old saying goes that perception is reality, and in the case of Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, there are two separate but equally prominent perceptions running parallel to each other this offseason.
The first is that Pitts, the former 4th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has been a disappointment since departing the University of Florida and arriving in Atlanta. The second is that Pitts, who will be playing on the fifth year of his rookie contract this year, will be traded before the 2025 season begins.
However, this could be a case where perception has actually crafted a version of reality that members of the Falcons organization aren’t seeing as clearly as it seems everyone else is. Yes, teams are inquiring about Pitts’ availability, and yes, fans in Atlanta are rightfully hoping for more out of their young tight end. But Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is talking like a guy who not only sees Pitts as part of his team’s future, but believes his best football is still yet to come.
"He's a big-time mismatch, a big-time matchup problem," Morris said earlier this week, according to Daniel Flick of Sports Illustrated. "When you get a chance to get him one of those matches, you can absolutely exploit those things. He's one of those guys that goes out on third down, was actually able to move the chains, creating that threat for you in that mismatch situation.”
It may not seem like based on the discourse surrounding Pitts, but he actually has been one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL since being drafted four years ago. Flick notes that since the 2021 season began, Pitts ranks in the top five among all tight ends in yards per reception (13.5 yards, second in the NFL), and receiving yards (2,651 yards, fifth).
Even still, there is undoubtedly pressure on the Falcons to get Pitts even more involved and make him more of a priority within their offense. That will not only be in the best interest of the team, but the best interest of Pitts, who Morris says has put plenty of pressure on himself to reach the lofty expectations that come with being a top five pick in the NFL Draft.
"We’re very critical of a guy who had about 700 yards receiving and whatever amount of receptions he's had because of the spot that he got drafted, and rightfully so," Morris said. "Some of that pressure that lives on his chest is really accumulated by himself and us -- and us, I mean, us as the media, because of how high he was drafted and how he's projected."
In this case, Pitts is no different than many of his other counterparts in the Falcons huddle. Michael Penix Jr., Bijan Robinson and Drake London were all top ten picks for the Falcons as well, so in a season where it once again feels like the NFC South is up for grabs, it will be these young playmakers that Atlanta will invest so much in who will be the catalysts of a potential run to the postseason.
