Kyle Pitts Trade Calls Reportedly Not Being Turned Away by Falcons amid NFL Rumors

Kyle Pitts has been with the Atlanta Falcons his entire NFL career, but the NFC South team is reportedly open to changing that if it receives the right offer this offseason.

"I don't think the Falcons are looking to deal him, but they're not turning away the calls either," ESPN's Adam Schefter said on the latest episode of his podcast. "So if there were a team that was willing to give up enough to get him, I think they could be enticed into trading the former top-five overall selection to another team."

Schefter previously reported the tight end is dealing with a strained muscle in his foot.

Atlanta selected Pitts with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft, and he seemed well on his way to stardom as a Pro Bowler in his rookie season.

The 24-year-old posted 68 catches for 1,026 yards and one touchdown that year, but that turned out to be the pinnacle of his career to this point.

The Florida product has largely failed to live up to expectations since with a combined 1,625 receiving yards and nine touchdowns over the last three years.

Other teams would have to be willing to accept the risk of underperformance, but financial factors are reportedly also something they would have to consider.

"The issue there is he's due $11 million in salary this year," Schefter said. "And I don't know that there are a whole lot of teams lining up to pay the Falcons what it would take and to pay Kyle Pitts what it would take entering the last year of his contract."

That creates a situation where potential suitors surely aren't interested in giving up much of value for the tight end, while the Falcons surely don't want to give up someone who still has plenty of potential for little or nothing.

Pitts could be a key part of Atlanta's offense this season, especially if opposing defenses are focusing too much attention on Bijan Robinson and Drake London. If nothing else, he could be a safety valve for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and potentially put himself in a solid negotiating position ahead of free agency.

That is, unless the Falcons receive a trade offer they are willing to make before the start of the 2025 campaign.