Falcons GM Terry Fontenot: No way we weren’t drafting Kyle Pitts
The Atlanta Falcons knew precisely what they were going to do with the fourth overall pick in this year's draft. They used that pick to select former Florida Gators standout tight end Kyle Pitts.
Last week, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said the franchise "coveted" Pitts for a long time. During a recent interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Fontenot added that there was "no way" the Falcons weren't selecting Pitts.
"No way we weren't drafting Kyle Pitts right there on the clock," Fontenot said. "Look, I talked to a lot of former General Managers just in general and just people I respect in the business, coaches. And everyone else [would have] made that same pick.
"We did have an open line and we listened to teams, and you have to listen and see if there's going to be compensation that knocks your socks off. So we listened and we didn't have any offers that really moved the meter in that way. So we were really excited about selecting that player."
Pitts will instantly upgrade the Falcons' receiving group alongside Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones. However, Atlanta could reportedly trade Jones this offseason, which would make Pitts' presence even more valuable.
Pitts was the top-ranked tight end in this year's draft. In three seasons with the Gators, the 20-year-old caught 100 passes for 1,492 yards and 18 touchdowns. His best season came in 2020 when he caught 43 passes for a career-high 770 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The addition of Pitts allowed the Falcons to decline the fifth-year option of Hayden Hurst, who will likely serve as the team's No. 2 tight end next season.
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