By Jalen Willingham

Kyle Pitts was drafted No. 4 overall to be the ultimate weapon. He hasn’t quite lived up to the selection, though. After a stellar rookie year, his usage and production have become one of the NFL’s most frustrating mysteries. Falcons fans and fantasy owners alike have torn their hair out watching him disappear in game plans.

Now, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. taking the reins, can 2025 finally be a return to form for Pitts?

A Look Back

As a rookie, Pitts lit up the league. After becoming the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history, he delivered 68 receptions for 1,026 yards and a touchdown. That effort earned him a Pro Bowl nod while making him the first rookie tight end selected since Jeremy Shockey in 2002.

Since then, though, it’s been puzzling.

Pitts followed his electric debut with just 356 receiving yards in Year 2. Injuries played a role, but so did inconsistency. While his numbers improved in the years that followed, it still hasn’t been enough to justify being picked ahead of Ja’Marr Chase who just led the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Blame can be spread around. Subpar quarterback play and Arthur Smith’s confusing offensive schemes limited Pitts’ impact. But that’s not the full story. At times, Pitts has shown a lack of effort, even appearing to quit on routes. One of the lowlights came in Penix Jr.’s first start, when Pitts essentially handed the ball to a defender for an interception.

New Opportunities

Despite the frustrations, the Falcons’ offense is now flush with talent. That includes Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and of course, Kyle Pitts. That trio could be a young quarterback’s dream, especially for someone like Penix Jr., who needs a reliable safety valve in the middle of the field.

The two seem to be building chemistry. They posted a video working out together this offseason, and Penix hasn’t shied away from giving Pitts credit early in camp.

Kyle Pitts posting a workout video with Michael Penix, Ray-Ray McCloud and Drake London amongst others! Glad to see the boys getting after it! pic.twitter.com/5pYcES4mVP

— Damski 🫶🏽 (@Damski32) July 19, 2025

“See we got KP the ball? Gonna be a lot of that,” Penix said in his opening press conference. He followed it up with praise: “The way he’s running his routes, in and out of his cuts, his breaks, giving full effort out there. He just looks like he’s out there having fun.”

That’s the Pitts Falcons fans have been waiting to see.

The Usage Debate

Pitts was drafted to be a matchup nightmare: a rare blend of size, speed and athleticism that keeps defensive coordinators up at night. But has he been used correctly?

Last season, Pitts had 511 total snaps in the passing game and ran 452 routes. He lined up in the slot on 211 of them, out wide on 105, and inline (true tight end) on 195. Clearly, he’s being moved all over the field , and that shouldn’t change anytime soon.

“The communication is at a very high level right now between him and Zac Robinson,” head coach Raheem Morris said.

Compared to the Arthur Smith era, Pitts spent more time inline than he had during his first three seasons, though the slot remained his most frequent alignment. That positional versatility could be a key to unlocking his full potential if the play design supports it.

Expectations in 2025

Is it foolish to expect another breakout year from Kyle Pitts? Maybe. But why not?

The Falcons finally have a clear offensive direction. They have a promising quarterback. And Pitts, still only 24 years old, is healthy heading into a crucial season.

Some say we’ve already seen the ceiling. Others see growth still to come.

“Kyle’s just got to go out and be the best version of himself,” Morris said. “The way you do that is what we’ve been doing the last couple of weeks: working with Michael Penix, having the ability to go out there and find a plan for him to operate.”

Pitts is playing on his fifth-year option, with a guaranteed salary of $10.878 million. 2025 is make-or-break. If he finally returns to his 2021 form, he’ll likely earn a long-term extension in Atlanta. If not, he walks in 2026 and fans will be left wondering what could have been if the team had simply drafted Ja’Marr Chase instead.

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