Kyle Pitts Trade Value: Will the Falcons Trade Their Underperforming TE in 2025?

The Atlanta Falcons’ 2024 season ended with a 7-10 record, missing the playoffs yet again. While the team showed flashes of potential, particularly with Bijan Robinson’s impressive rookie campaign and Drake London’s continued development, one player’s performance remained a persistent question mark: tight end Kyle Pitts. Drafted fourth overall in 2021, Pitts was expected to revolutionize the tight end position, but his production has yet to match the hype. Now, as the 2025 season approaches, the question looms: what is Kyle Pitts’ trade value, and will the Falcons finally decide to move on from their underperforming star?

Pitts’ Performance: A Look at the Numbers

Kyle Pitts’ career began with a promising rookie season in 2021, where he recorded 68 receptions for 1,026 yards, earning a Pro Bowl selection. However, since then, his numbers have declined. In 2024, Pitts played in 17 games, starting 15, and recorded 47 receptions for 602 yards and four touchdowns. While the touchdown number was a career-high, his receiving yards and receptions were career lows outside of his injury-shortened 2022 season.

According to PFF, Pitts’ overall grade in 2024 was 59.6, ranking him 33rd out of 37 tight ends. His receiving grade was 63.9, placing him 29th out of 37. These numbers paint a clear picture: Pitts has not been performing at the level expected of a top-five draft pick.

Factors Affecting Pitts’ Trade Value

Several factors contribute to Kyle Pitts’ current trade value:

Underperformance: Pitts’ inability to consistently produce at an elite level has undoubtedly lowered his value. His catch rate of 63.5% in 2024 is not ideal for a player of his caliber.
Fifth-Year Option: The Falcons exercised Pitts’ $10.88 million fifth-year option for 2025. While this provides cost certainty for a potential acquiring team, it also means they would need to make a decision on a long-term extension relatively soon.
Trey McBride’s Contract: The Arizona Cardinals recently signed Trey McBride to a four-year, $75 million extension, making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. This deal has complicated Pitts’ future, as it raises the market value for tight ends, potentially making it more expensive for the Falcons to retain him if he performs well in 2025.
Injury History: While Pitts was healthy in 2024, he is coming off a season-ending knee injury in 2022, which may give some teams pause.
Potential: Despite his struggles, Pitts still possesses immense potential. His size (6’6″), speed, and athleticism are rare for a tight end, and some teams may believe they can unlock his full potential with a change of scenery and offensive scheme.

Potential Trade Destinations

Several teams could be interested in acquiring Kyle Pitts via trade:

New York Jets: The Jets have been frequently mentioned as a potential landing spot for Pitts. They recently signed Justin Fields and could be looking to add more weapons to their offense. Pitts could complement Garrett Wilson and provide a valuable target for Fields.
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts struggled with tight end production in 2024 and could see Pitts as a missing piece for their offense. With quarterback concerns still lingering, Pitts could provide a reliable target.
Denver Broncos: The Broncos, led by Bo Nix, are looking to improve their tight end position. While they signed Evan Engram, Pitts could be brought in as a potential upgrade or complement to Engram.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles could be in the market for a tight end if they decide to move on from Dallas Goedert. Pitts’ pedigree and potential could be enticing for Howie Roseman.
Kansas City Chiefs: With Travis Kelce’s future uncertain, the Chiefs could look to acquire Pitts as a potential replacement. Putting Pitts in Andy Reid’s creative offense could unlock his full potential.

Trade Scenarios and Potential Value

It’s difficult to pinpoint Kyle Pitts’ exact trade value, but several analysts have offered estimations. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a trade where the Falcons send Pitts and a 2026 third-round pick to the New York Jets for the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This suggests that some teams may view Pitts as being worth a late first-round or early second-round pick.

Other analysts believe the Falcons may not be able to get more than a Day 3 selection in return for Pitts. This would be a significant drop in value for a player who was once considered a blue-chip prospect.

Ultimately, Pitts’ trade value will depend on how teams view his potential and how confident they are in their ability to unlock it.

Will the Falcons Trade Pitts?

The decision to trade Kyle Pitts is a complex one for the Falcons. On one hand, he has not lived up to expectations, and his contract situation could become problematic. Trading him could allow the Falcons to acquire valuable draft capital and address other needs on their roster, such as edge rusher.

On the other hand, Pitts still has immense potential, and the Falcons have invested significant resources in him. Trading him would be an admission of a draft mistake and could leave a hole at the tight end position.

Several factors could influence the Falcons’ decision:

Pitts’ Performance in 2025: If Pitts has a breakout season in 2025, the Falcons may be more inclined to keep him and offer him a contract extension.
Draft Capital: If the Falcons receive a compelling trade offer, they may be more willing to part ways with Pitts.
Tight End Depth: If the Falcons believe they have adequate depth at the tight end position, they may be more comfortable trading Pitts. They recently signed Teagan Quitoriano, who joins Charlie Woerner and Feleipe Franks on the roster.
New Coaching Staff: With a new coaching staff in place, they may have a different vision for Pitts’ role in the offense.

As of April 16, 2025, it’s still too early to say definitively whether the Falcons will trade Kyle Pitts. However, given his underperformance, contract situation, and the team’s needs at other positions, it’s certainly a possibility to monitor as the 2025 season unfolds. The Falcons may also wait to see how he performs in the upcoming season before making a final decision on his future with the team.