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Report: Pro Bowl tight end available via trade
Brett Davis-Imagn Images

A former Pro Bowl tight end is reportedly available via trade if an interested team were to make the right offer.

The Atlanta Falcons have been receiving calls from teams that are interested in potentially acquiring tight end Kyle Pitts, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. During the latest episode of his podcast, Schefter said the Falcons are not actively looking to trade Pitts but they are entertaining the discussions.

“There also have been teams that have approached the Falcons about trading for Kyle Pitts. I don’t think the Falcons are looking to deal him, but they’re not turning away the calls, either,” Schefter said. “If there were a team that were willing to give up enough to get him, I think that they could be enticed into trading the former top-five overall selection to another team.

“The issue there is he’s due $11 million in salary this year, and I don’t know that there are a whole lot of teams lining up to pay the Falcons what it would take and to pay Kyle Pitts what it would take when he’s entering the last year of his contract.”

Pitts has not lived up to expectations since Atlanta drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick in 2021. Though, the former Florida star has had to deal with erratic quarterback play through much of his four NFL seasons.

Pitts finished with 47 catches, 602 yards and 4 touchdowns after playing in all 17 games last season. He posted similar numbers the year before. His production has dropped off significantly since he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021 with 68 catches for 1,026 yards and a score.

The Falcons hoped Pitts would become the focal point of their passing offense when they used a high draft pick on him, but that has not happened thus far. They still chose to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, which will pay him more than $10 million in 2025.

While Pitts has had some brutal lapses at key moments in games, it is not all that surprising that teams have interest in the 24-year-old. The question is how much the Falcons still value his upside.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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