Rookie to main man: Falcons Kyle Pitts

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Abdullah Mohammed | Last updated 7/4/22

Kyle Pitts is making a name for himself after a stellar rookie season with the Falcons. The former 1st-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft (4th overall) posted 1,026 receiving yards with 68 catches, followed by a touchdown as well as a Pro Bowl appearance. A lot has changed since then, one being his quarterback, as Matt Ryan was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, who were eventually one and done with Carson Wentz. With multiple changes in the offense, Kyle Pitts is a name to watch for heading into year two.

Pitts had his struggles early on in the season, not connecting with then quarterback Matt Ryan. He didn’t seem like himself at times. As the season was winding down, he became an immediate impact on the Falcons’ offense despite ending the season 7-10.

“Just the mental side, that kind of helps you play faster,” Pitts said. “When you know what you’re doing, when you know what the defense is doing, just be able to be the best player you are.” – Kyle Pitts when asked the differences he’s made in the offseason (ESPN)

Pitts will get the chance to catch from either quarterbacks Marcus Mariota or rookie Desmond Ridder. In my last post, I discussed NFL analyst Adam Rank’s audacious record expectations for the Falcons. In that piece, he speculated that Mariota would be benched at some point during the season, a topic worthy of more examination when the season begins. I expect either quarterback to lean heavily on Pitts.

Pitts has joined Mike Ditka, the first tight end elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as the only rookie tight ends to surpass 1,000 yards. This is a massive accomplishment for Pitts, as this is just the beginning for him and the Atlanta Falcons.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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