Falcons pick up fifth-year option for tight end Kyle Pitts

What It Means

The move ensures that Pitts, the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, will remain under contract with the Falcons through the 2025 season. The athletic pass-catcher suffered through a pair of injury-influenced down seasons in 2022 and 2023, but it feels fair to assume 2024 could be the best season of the young tight end's career.

Pitts amassed over 1,000 receiving yards as a 21-year-old rookie, joining Mike Ditka's rare company as the second tight end to ever accomplish the feat in their first season. He could recapture that upside in 2024 after the Falcons upgraded from Desmond Ridder to Kirk Cousins at quarterback.

Cousins has historically peppered his tight ends with targets when possible. Before his injury last season, he and Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson were averaging 6.6 catches for 59.8 yards and 0.4 touchdowns per game together. Pitts could thrive with similar volume in Atlanta.