Kyle Pitts has not yet been able to fulfill expectations with the Atlanta Falcons despite a strong rookie year. Next season, everything will be different, says his head coach Raheem Morris, who wants to help his player.

2021, a large number of spectators at the NFL Draft in Cleveland were amazed when the name Kyle Pitts was mentioned in fourth place. The fact that the tight end was drafted in the first round was not too surprising. What was surprising, however, was that the Atlanta Falcons struck as early as fourth.

Never before has a tight end been selected this early in the draft. The star of the Florida Gators drew attention in college with sure hands and incredible athleticism. Pitts was also predicted a stellar NFL career after the draft. A prediction that has not yet come true.

On the sidelines of the 2025 Scouting Combine, head coach Raheem Morris told club media: “He’s always going to be under added pressure because he was drafted so high, right? So we want to help the young man out there so he can be the best version of himself. We’ll always make the right decision for us to get him going.”

General manager Terry Fontenot, meanwhile, continues to believe in his player’s talent: “He’s done some really good things. We believe that Kyle will do everything he can to be the best player he can be for us. We’ll do the same for him.”

Pitts was at least able to meet the high expectations in his rookie season. The tight end caught 68 passes for 1026 yards. This made him only the second tight end after Hall of Famer Mike Ditka to break the 1000-yard mark in his first season.

The fact that Pitts only caught one touchdown pass seemed secondary at first glance. After all, he was voted directly into the Pro Bowl. Since then, however, the 24-year-old’s performance has declined significantly.

In his second season, Pitts caught just 356 yards, the following year he caught for 667 yards and last season he caught for 602 yards. In terms of touchdowns, the young tight end did not explode either. Last season, he set a new personal best with four touchdowns.

Expectations and salary are attached to Pitts

Overall, Pitts’ statistics for a tight end show quite solid numbers. However, due to the early draft pick, there are also significantly higher expectations on the player. In addition, he is paid a high salary. After the draft, Pitts signed a four-year contract worth $32.91 million.

The Falcons exercised the associated fifth-year option at the end of last season, which will earn him $10.878 million in 2025. This means that Pitts will not become a free agent until 2026.

A possible explanation for what might be lacking on the field can be found by taking a look at his injury history. Immediately after his strong rookie year, he suffered a knee injury. Throughout his career, he has suffered from minor injuries, including to the back of his thigh.

Pitts is experiencing a difficult situation with the Falcons

In addition, the Falcons have been extremely inconsistent at the quarterback position since his arrival. So far, Pitts has played under five different starters. He made his debut under Matt Ryan. Marcus Mariota (2022), Desmond Ridder (2023), Kirk Cousins (2024) followed, and after Cousins’ demotion, Michael Penix Jr.

Pitts is expected to play under the latter again next season. A pivotal year for the professional, which will determine his future in Atlanta. If Pitts fails to make the breakthrough again, a contract extension with the Falcons seems extremely unlikely. Once again, the spectators will be amazed, but this time at the career setback of Kyle Pitts.