The 2024 NFL season is over for 30 of 32 teams as the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles are set to face off in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday. For those teams that didn’t make the playoffs, the focus is already on the 2025 season.
The Atlanta Falcons had their best season in seven years but there’s still work to be done for the team to reach the next level. The offense is in good shape but many are predicting the Falcons to trade talented tight end Kyle Pitts in the offseason.
The former No. 4 overall pick was the most hyped tight end prospect ever, and during his rookie year, he lived up to the hype with over 1,000 receiving yards. Things have gone south for Pitts ever since the team traded away Matt Ryan in 2022.
In a new episode of “NFL Draft with Josh & Hayden,” NFL analysts Josh Norris and Hayden Winks propose that the Falcons trade Pitts to the New England Patriots for a fifth-round pick (No. 145).
“A few ways to look at this,” said Norris. “One, the Falcons only have four picks this year. They actually forfeited their fifth-rounder due to the Kirk Cousins tampering, so this would replace that pick.”
A fifth-round pick feels a bit low for a 24-year-old starting-caliber tight end, but that’s likely due to this being in the final year of his contract.
Norris goes on to discuss the financial relief that moving Pitts would provide. “Trading Kyle Pitts would allow them to save $10.8 million. Currently, they are $14.5 million over the cap.”
Pitts has racked up 196 catches for 2,651 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in his four NFL seasons.
The Falcons have also been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. Although, according to the latest odds, Atlanta isn’t among the favorites to trade for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.