This is in the context of a mock draft where Kendall paired Mason Taylor with the Falcons — though it should be noted that Kendall’s mock has more picks for the Falcons than they currently have. But Kendall notes that Kyle Pitts will be playing on the final year of his rookie deal and incumbent backup Charlie Woerner has 18 catches in five seasons. He then writes that Atlanta “will give Pitts a chance to prove himself early this season, but if he disappears for a couple of weeks as he has at times in his career, the Falcons need a pass-catching weapon at that position.” Oof. Pitts probably will remain a TE1 in fantasy circles this year based on projection, but certainly nothing he’s shown on the field has demonstrated he’s a lock to return TE1 production.

At the NFL Combine, both Morris and Fontenot hinted that Pitts’ effort wasn’t always there, though he has shown flashes over his past two disappointing seasons with Atlanta. “We want to get the young man out there being the best version of himself and we will always make the right decision for the Falcons in order to get him going,” Morris said of Pitts, 24, who’s entering the final year of his deal with the Falcons. We’ll have to figure those things out. He’s shown some spurts of greatness, and he’s shown some things that (make you) desire more. We’ll try to get the best out of him at all times. That’s our job as coaches.” An afterthought in the 2024 Falcons offense, the former first round pick will likely play elsewhere in 2026. The Athletic’s Josh Kendall said many NFL front offices “can’t quit” the idea of Pitts as a game-changing tight end.

It was a forgettable end to a forgettable season for Pitts. For the third straight year, the former first round pick was among the most disappointing players in all of fantasy football. New Falcons OC Zac Robinson, like Arthur Smith before him, had little idea of how to properly utilize Pitts, who is neither a tight end nor a wideout. Pitts managed 45 receptions in 2024, below his 53-catch total from 2023. He had a career-high four touchdowns, one of which came from Michael Penix. Pitts, who had just two games with more than four catches this season, will likely be over-drafted by fantasy gamers once again in 2025 because he was highly touted coming out of college four years ago.

Pitts committed a drop late in the fourth quarter on the team’s penultimate drive of the game which forced the first fourth down of the drive for the Falcons. Quarterback Michael Penix would convert that fourth down to sustain the drive, one that ultimately concluded with a fourth down touchdown reception by Pitts to tie the game with just over a minute remaining to play. They would force a quick three-and-out and drove into field goal position via a defensive pass interference penalty, but the 57-yard field goal attempt ultimately fell just short to send the game into overtime. Jayden Daniels would ensure the Falcons would not see the ball again, sending the team to the No. 8 seed in the NFC. They now require a win over the Panthers and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints in Week 18 to make the postseason.