NFL Insider Predicts Kyle Pitts Could Be Traded by Falcons During Contract Year

ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote Wednesday that he wouldn't "be surprised" if Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts finishes out the 2025 NFL season with another team.

According to Graziano, whether Pitts finishes out the campaign in Atlanta could hinge on the Falcons' wide receiver depth.

Pitts is currently set to play the 2025 season on a fifth-year club option, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter reported in July that there have been "no whispers" the Falcons are planning to extend him.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported in May that "multiple teams" had reached out to the Falcons about potentially trading for Pitts, and that the Falcons wanted "at least a Day 2 pick to even spark serious talks."

Graziano noted that the shoulder injury Mooney suffered early in training camp led to "a lot of talk about Atlanta filling that void by playing two-tight end sets and basically using Pitts as a receiver."

"And the Falcons absolutely might still try that. But there are definitely signs that they don't view Pitts as a great fit for what they're trying to do on offense," Graziano wrote.

"Mooney's training camp absence gave some of the younger receivers on the roster a chance to show what they can do, and if one or more of them has emerged as a reliable contributor by the time the trade deadline rolls around, don't be shocked if Pitts is on the move."

The Falcons kept seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster released Tuesday, with Drake London, Ray-Ray McCloud III, KhaDarel Hodge, Casey Washington, David Sills V and Jamal Agnew joining Mooney on the list.

Mooney avoided an IR placement to start the season, indicating the Falcons could be hoping to see him back within the first four games of the campaign. The decision to keep a seventh wideout on the roster could still be an indication the franchise isn't sure he'll be ready for Week 1.

London is coming off a breakout campaign during which he eclipsed 1,200 receiving yards as a top target for Michael Penix Jr., and Mooney came just eight yards shy of his own 1,000-yard season.

Outside of those two starters, however, the Falcons received minimal production from their receiving corps last season.

McCloud made 62 catches for 686 yards and Hodge contributed seven catches for 131 yards, but remaining wide receivers Washington and Chris Blair combined for just two total catches and 31 yards last season.

Pitts, who earned a Pro Bowl nod during his standout rookie season in 2021, saw his sophomore campaign derailed by a season-ending knee injury.

The highest-drafted tight end in NFL history has been unable to return to his former dominance since then, seeing his usage decline over his last two campaigns with the Falcons. He raised further concern amid reports of a foot injury this offseason.

Pitts is currently set to play a starting role alongside Charlie Woerner next season, but his importance to the Falcons could ultimately be influenced both by his health and consistency as well as Mooney's availability and the team's wide receiving depth this fall.