Falcons TE Kyle Pitts: Team X-Factor?

The Atlanta Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 draft.

Kyle Pitts seemed to be on his way to living up to the hype after his rookie season. 

The former No. 4 pick in the 2021 draft had a historic first year with 68 catches for 1,026 receiving yards and one touchdown for the Atlanta Falcons. He became the second rookie tight end to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in NFL history and was 51 yards away from passing Mike Ditka for the record, which he set in 1961. 

Pitts was also the first rookie tight end with over 60 receptions and 900 receiving yards. He also broke Atlanta's rookie record for receiving yards in 2021.  

Then the former Pro Bowler hit a bump in the road in his second season. A knee injury limited Pitts to 28 catches for 356 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. If the Falcons hope to make a jump in 2023, Sports Illustrated thinks it'll depends on Pitts' performance. 

"The Falcons didn’t draft Pitts to be a good player—they drafted him to be special," SI writes. "So far, he’s shown glimpses but is yet to put the entire package together. For Atlanta to reach the playoffs, Pitts needs to be a driving force."

Pitts' play will be dependent on second-yard quarterback Desmond Ridder. While SI described Ridder as more of an "unknown," than a "weakness," they said the Falcons' success will depend on him. 

"If the Falcons are truly going to do something meaningful in 2023, it’ll be due to a surprise performance under center," SI writes. "Otherwise, Atlanta remains stuck in football purgatory, hoping to find its next Matt Ryan."

The best way to set up a young quarterback for success is to give him as many weapons as possible. Atlanta did just that by taking running back Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 pick. 

If Pitts, who SI touted as "arguably the most-hyped tight end coming out of college in recent memory," can stay healthy and continue the trajectory from his rookie year, it will improve an Atlanta passing attack that needs to give Ridder as much help as possible.

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