Top Trade Packages for Falcons' Kyle Pitts Amid 2025 NFL OTA Rumors
As the NFL calendar moves into organized team activities (OTAs), the rumor mill continues to churn. Recent buzz suggests that teams are looking to pry one former Pro Bowler away from the Atlanta Falcons.
Kirk Cousins has been the subject of trade speculation throughout the offseason and is probably the first name that comes to mind when a potential Falcons trade is mentioned. However, we're now talking about tight end Kyle Pitts, who was a rookie Pro Bowler in 2021 but has been underutilized since and is now entering the final year of his rookie contract.
According to Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz, "multiple teams" have reached out to gauge Pitts' availability, but the Falcons "prefer" to keep the 24-year-old tight end.
While Atlanta may prefer to keep Pitts, it could be intrigued by the right offer. He's scheduled to be a free agent next offseason and is set to earn $10.9 million on the fifth-year option. The Falcons, meanwhile, have just $5.3 million in cap space and could use added financial flexibility if they hope to make any additional moves before Week 1.
With this in mind, let's examine some logical suitors for Pitts and some hypothetical trade packages that just might get Atlanta's attention.
New England Patriots
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Patriots Get: TE Kyle Pitts
Falcons Get: 2026 3rd-round pick, 2026 4th-round pick, TE Austin Hooper
Pitts hasn't topped 1,000 receiving yards since his rookie season, and he hasn't had a 100-yard game since then either. Additionally, he's dealing with a "foot issue" that has kept him out of early OTAs, according to NFL insider James Palmer.
Yet he remains an intriguing trade target because he has an All-Pro ceiling and won't turn 25 until October. He'd be a great addition to any tight-end-needy team, but he'd be particularly valuable to a younger team looking to build a long-term contender.
The New England Patriots, who are building around second-year quarterback Drake Maye, fall directly into this category. While New England does have capable tight ends in Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, both are 30 and will hit free agency within the next two years.
Pitts could become a go-to target for Maye and become a permanent fixture at tight end. New England, which leads the NFL in cap space, would have little trouble signing him to a long-term deal.
According to Schultz, "it would take at least a Day 2 pick" for the Falcons to even consider an offer for Pitts. The Patriots could afford to offer that and more. New England is equipped with a pair of 2026 fourth-round picks, could top the trade offer with a third-rounder and could include Hooper, who previously had two Pro Bowl campaigns for the Falcons.
Getting Hooper back in the deal would give the Falcons depth at tight end at a fraction of the cost of Pitts—Hooper is set to carry a $2 million base salary.
Washington Commanders
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Commanders Get: TE Kyle Pitts
Falcons Get: 2026 3rd-round pick, 2027 3rd-round pick
Like the Patriots, the Washington Commanders are building around a promising second-year quarterback.
Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels has shown that he has legitimate superstar potential. He's also proved that he can thrive while targeting a quality pass-catching tight end.
Last season, tight end Zach Ertz ranked second among Commanders pass-catchers with 66 receptions, 654 yards and seven touchdowns. Washington re-signed him to a one-year deal this offseason and has 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott at the position. Yet, adding Pitts could still make plenty of sense.
Ertz, who will turn 35 in November, isn't a long-term answer for the Commanders. Pitts could be, and even if Sinnott starts playing up to his draft status, having two potent tight ends would be valuable.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could have a lot of fun scheming up mismatches with Pitts, Sinnott, Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel in the passing game.
Washington might have to pay a bit of a premium to snag Pitts from a potential playoff rival, and it won't have a 2026 second-round pick because of the Laremy Tunsil trade. Washington does, however, have more than $21 million in available cap space.
Los Angeles Rams
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Rams Get: TE Kyle Pitts, 2026 2nd-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick
Falcons Get: 2026 1st-round pick
In terms of personnel, the Los Angeles Rams are in a position similar to Washington's. Tyler Higbee is 32 and entering the final year of his contract. Rookie second-round pick Terrance Ferguson has potential but is totally unproven at the pro level.
Trading for Pitts would give the Rams a dynamic pass-catching tight end to complement wideouts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Long-term, he could serve as a target for both Matthew Stafford and whichever quarterback the Rams pick to carry the baton after him.
It's also worth noting that Rams quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone was Atlanta's offensive coordinator during Pitts' 2021 Pro Bowl campaign.
This hypothetical trade offer could provide a creative way for the Falcons to reclaim their 2026 first-round pick. Atlanta traded that selection during April's draft to move back into Round 1 and secure Tennessee pass-rusher James Pearce Jr.
Based on DraftTek's trade value chart, this deal would most likely give Atlanta trade value ranging from a mid-second-round selection to a high third-rounder—depending on where the teams ultimately select in the order—back for Pitts.
Atlanta would reclaim its first-round pick. The Rams, who have gotten quite good at finding gems in the middle rounds, would swap that first-rounder for Pitts and a pair of Day 2 selections.
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Tennessee Titans
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Titans Get: TE Kyle Pitts
Falcons Get: 2026 3rd-round pick, 2026 7th-round pick, QB Will Levis
The Tennessee Titans just used the No. 1 overall pick on quarterback Cam Ward. The Miami product is expected to give Tennessee a long-term answer behind center, but he leaves the future of 2023 second-round pick Will Levis in question.
"Anyone who’s ever been in my situation would agree that it sucks," Levis said, per Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. "I’m just trying to do the best I can to not let it affect me."
A fresh start could benefit both the Titans and Levis. Perhaps the two parties could find one by flipping Levis to the Falcons as part of a package for Pitts.
Why would Atlanta be interested in Levis when it has second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. on the roster? Well, the short answer is that if the Falcons manage to move Cousins at some point this offseason, it'll need additional depth behind Penix.
Levis hasn't played particularly well in the NFL, but he has far more experience (21 starts) than Easton Stick and Emory Jones.
Levis would largely be a throw-in with a package headlined by a (likely) high third-round selection.
For the Titans, Pitts would immediately upgrade Ward's supporting cast. Tennessee has a vastly underrated tight end in Chigoziem Okonkwo but some questionable receiver depth behind Calvin Ridley. Pitts could give Ward another playmaker in two-tight-end sets or as a big slot receiver in Brian Callahan's offense.
Cleveland Browns
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Browns Get: TE Kyle Pitts
Falcons Get: CB Greg Newsome II
While most of the teams on this list are in a good spot financially, the Cleveland Browns are not. Cleveland ranks near the bottom of the league with just $12.4 million in available cap space.
However, the Browns could save $13.4 million by trading cornerback Greg Newsome II, who, like Pitts, is set to play on the fifth-year option. Newsome could appeal to the Falcons, who need additional depth on the back end.
Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine recently named cornerback as the top remaining post-draft need for Atlanta.
While player-for-player swaps are rare, this one could make sense for both teams. Pitts hasn't really been an offensive centerpiece since his rookie season, and the Falcons may not want to pay him market value long-term. Newsome has been mostly solid for the Browns, when healthy, but Cleveland needs to think about its offensive future.
If the Browns don't find a long-term quarterback in trade acquisition Kenny Pickett or rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, they'll likely target a QB at the top of the 2026 draft. Current starting tight end David Njoku is set to be a free agent in 2026, and rookie Harold Fannin Jr. is unproven.
This theoretical deal would allow the Falcons and Browns to trade in players who may not be in their long-term plans for one-year auditions with other products from the 2021 draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers
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Steelers Get: TE Kyle Pitts, QB Kirk Cousins
Falcons Get: 2026 2nd-round pick, 2026 5th-round pick, 2027 4th-round pick
Pitts has yet to replicate his rookie success and isn't under contract beyond this season. Therefore, the Falcons are unlikely to receive a second-round offer for the tight end alone.
In this hypothetical scenario, though, Atlanta offloads Cousins, along with Pitts, to get a second-rounder and a bit more from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Falcons would also save $27.5 million in cap space by moving Cousins after June 1.
The Steelers are widely expected to add Aaron Rodgers at some point this offseason, which would erase any potential interest in Cousins. Rodgers hasn't signed a contract yet, though, which leaves Mason Rudolph as QB1 in Pittsburgh. If Rodgers decides to retire or try playing elsewhere in 2025, Cousins could be the Steelers' next best option.
Cousins, who is over four years younger than Rodgers, would have more potential long-term value to the Steelers anyway.
"As long as Pittsburgh doesn't have a quarterback, I'll always keep my eyes open on that," ESPN's Peter Schrager told The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday (beginning around the 1:48:20 mark).
Tight end isn't a massive need for the Steelers because they have Pat Freiermuth atop the depth chart. Pittsburgh lacks potent pass-catchers after Freiermuth and DK Metcalf, however, and could provide a strong schematic fit for Pitts.
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was Atlanta's head coach when Pitts was drafted.
This is a package trade that could probably only happen if Rodgers shuns the Steelers—or if Pittsburgh surprisingly decides to pivot away from him. Should that happen, however, it might also be the best possible outcome for all involved.
*Cap and contract information via Spotrac.
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