The Falcons made the biggest splash of the entire offseason already, signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract on the first day of NFL free agency. The deal comes with $100 million in guarantees, and there are a plethora of different aspects that will be discussed in the coming days.
One of the more trivial ones is who will don the #8 in Atlanta? The number was previously held by Kyle Pitts, but even he is speculating if it is time for a change, posting a picture of him wearing #84 from his days with the Florida Gators.
The solution seems to be simple. Pitts came to the Falcons in the draft the same year Cordarrelle Patterson joined the team in free agency. Seniority always wins, and Patterson won the right to wear #84. With Patterson now a free agent, Pitts can reclaim the #84 from his college days, giving Cousins the opportunity to wear #8.
It’s a win for all parties, and outside of Kirk Cousins, I’m not sure there is a happier person in the Falcons building than Kyle Pitts. Since his historic rookie campaign with Matt Ryan under center, Pitts has suffered through catching passes from Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, and Marcus Mariota. Now, Pitts will have the opportunity to play with the best quarterback of his young career, and it couldn’t have come at a better time, as he’ll be looking for a new contract this time next year.
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