Taken at No. 4 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, the highest a tight end has ever been drafted in NFL history, Pitts has had pressure to produce from the moment he joined the Falcons.
He initially delivered in a big way, putting together a historic rookie season that featured 68 receptions for 1,026 yards and a touchdown, averaging 15.1 yards per catch and earning a Pro Bowl selection. He became just the second rookie tight end in NFL history to tally a 1,000-yard season, joining Hall of Famer Mike Ditka.
But Pitts has not been able to get close to that performance again, recording 1,625 yards in total in the past three seasons and never finishing with more than 667 yards. It certainly didn’t help that his 2022 season was hampered by and then cut short by injury, notably a season-ending torn MCL, and that Atlanta has switched things up at offensive coordinator and multiple times at quarterback since that first year.
Despite Pitt struggling to regain his rookie form, the Falcons still picked up his fifth-year option last offseason, trusting that their prized young weapon could regain his footing with consistency around him.
And with Atlanta settling into the second year of Robinson’s offensive scheme and hoping to start 2025 with more clarity at QB after Michael Penix Jr.‘s late-season ascension, the OC believes that time is now for Pitts.
Adding on motivation for the tight end is his status entering a contract year as he looks to secure that all-important second deal by showing out in 2025. Head coach Raheem Morris has already said this offseason that he wants to see the “best version” of Pitts this year, and that the team was working to figure out what was needed to get that out of him.
With other young contributors Bijan Robinson and Drake London coming off of career years in 2024, adding a resurgent Pitts to the offensive equation could be just what the Falcons need to contend in the NFC South once again.