Watch: Falcons draft reach leaves TE Kyle Pitts stunned

Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Falcons TE Kyle Pitts ‘shocked’ by team drafting QB Michael Penix Jr.

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Apr 25, 2024 11:43 PM ET

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins isn’t the only one who was stunned by the team’s selection of QB Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was equally taken by surprise as he reacted in real time to the selection during Bleacher Report’s live draft show.

“This is a good one, I like this one,” Pitts said. “I’m very shocked, I’m not going to lie. I did think we were going defense, not going to lie. But that definitely kind of just changed up the dynamic.”

Dallas Cowboys edge-rusher Micah Parsons, who was also on B/R's draft show, was equally confused by the selection. The full video of Pitts’ reaction is below.

Kyle Pitts live reaction to the Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr.

Watch here: https://t.co/NHswLhR6K8 pic.twitter.com/2PheNRoyOV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2024

Edge-rusher, cornerback and defensive tackle were bigger areas of need for the Falcons and Pitts likely believed the organization was going to address one of them rather than adding to a position of strength.

In his three-year NFL career, Pitts has caught passes from six different QBs in Atlanta – Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Logan Woodside, Marcus Mariota, Matt Ryan and Josh Rosen.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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