It’s been a bit of a rocky start to the season for Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. Because of that, his name is beginning to float around in NFL trade rumors.
On Wednesday, AtoZ Sports’ Destin Adams suggested a new trade destination for Pitts — the Indianapolis Colts.
“Kyle Pitts was considered a ‘Can’t Miss Prospect’ in the 2021 NFL Draft, and it led to him being drafted 4th overall by the Atlanta Falcons,” Adams wrote. “He recorded the 2nd most receiving yards for a rookie tight end in NFL History with 1,026 yards in 2021.
“Last season, he couldn’t match that success, as he only totaled 356 yards in the ten games he played. And this year, again, he is looking at a lower usage season.
“If they elected to move Pitts, it would come down to not feeling he is a good fit for head coach Arthur Smith’s system.”
This trade rumor comes a couple days after ESPN’s Robert Griffin III named the Dallas Cowboys a candidate to trade for the Falcons tight end.
The Falcons, though, responded to Griffin’s notion of the team dealing Pitts to the Cowboys. NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported that response was an emphatic, “no.”
The Falcons will likely respond the same way to Adam’s trade suggestion.
However, it seems as though trade rumors will involve Pitts until Atlanta involves him more in the offense. The former No. 4 overall pick has 9 receptions for only 100 yards in three games this season.
Last year, Pitts averaged 2.8 receptions and 35.6 yards per contest in 10 games. He remains at about those averages this season.
But with future Hall of Fame quarterback Matt Ryan behind center, Pitts was a Pro Bowler as a rookie. During that season, Pitts had 68 catches for 1,026 yards with a touchdown.
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot would never say it publicly. But in all likelihood, the team views quarterback, and not tight end, the offense’s biggest issue.
To get the quarterback in rhythm, the last thing a team wants to do is trade a top pass catcher.
