The Falcons may attempt to cash in after Kyle Pitts finally raised his stock.
The veteran tight end is available in trade talks and could be moved during the three-day NFL draft beginning Thursday to help give the Falcons more picks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Pitts signed his one-year, $15.05 million franchise tag earlier this month.
“I would watch to see if they could find a trade partner for Kyle Pitts, who they’re open to dealing,” Schefter said on his self-named podcast Monday. “They have (No.) 48, they have (No.) 79, they have (No.) 122. They’re short on picks. I think Ian Cunningham, the new Falcons’ (general manager) in his first draft, would like to move back, get more picks being that they’re short on them this year.”
The Falcons do not have a first-round pick after trading it away last year, and this draft marks the first of the team’s new regime featuring Cunningham and new coach Kevin Stefanski.
New regimes are not as tethered to players from past front offices, and it appears Atlanta may attempt to sell high on a player who has not delivered on his draft promise in his five seasons in the league.
Pitts, 25, had a nice rookie season in 2021 when he tallied 68 catches for 1,026 yards with one touchdown, but he tallied 356, 667 and 602 receiving yards in the next three seasons, respectively.
Last season, Pitts finally returned to the top tiers of tight ends by hauling in a career-high 88 catches for 928 yards with a career-best five touchdowns.
The Falcons then put the franchise tag on Pitts this offseason which gave them the chance to have him under contract for one more year and potentially work out a long-term deal.
Cunningham, though, said earlier this offseason that he would at least listen to offers for Pitts, indicating that the union may not be meant for the long haul.
“It’s my job as the general manager to do what’s best for the organization,” Cunningham said in March, per ESPN. “Kyle is a great player. We’ve seen his skill set. Also, it’s my job to listen.”
Teams could see Pitts as a potential fit since this year’s tight end class is lacking blue-chip talent.
Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is considered a surefire first-round pick, with Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers having the chance to be a late first-rounder.
One potential factor in any deal could be whether the acquiring team believes it can sign Pitts to an extension rather than risk giving up valuable picks for a one-year rental who has not shown consistency.
