Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is off to another slow start this season. Perhaps he’ll find his groove after catching a long touchdown pass on Sunday.
On a 4th-and-3 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 36-yard line early in the first quarter, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins connected with a wide-open Pitts, who scored a 41-yard TD.
When the Falcons took Pitts with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, it seemed he would become a weapon for their passing attack. NFL Next Gen Stats gave him the best grade (92) among TEs in the 2021 class.
However, he has struggled to meet expectations through his first four seasons with the club. Although he made the Pro Bowl in his rookie year, he has yet to finish a season with three or more TD catches.
Former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith — who was fired after the 2023-24 season — seemingly never figured out how to use Pitts, which may explain some of his struggles.
Still, he hasn’t fared much better under new HC Raheem Morris. Through his first seven games, the former Florida Gator only has 25 receptions for 328 yards and one TD catch.
The Falcons picked up Pitts’ fifth-year option this offseason, but he must start showing them more to earn an extension down the road.
