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Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. Makes Surprise Kyle Pitts Offseason Comments

By Chris Schad

Dec 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) prepares for a game against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Dec 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) prepares for a game against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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When the Atlanta Falcons selected Kyle Pitts with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he was supposed to be a game-changer. 

Pitts was a 6-foot-6, 246-pound unicorn with an athletic profile that was rarely seen before and it helped him become the highest drafted tight end in NFL history. The Florida product was seen as a big-time receiver and his presence was meant to elevate whoever was playing quarterback for the Falcons including Matt Ryan, Desmond Ridder and Kirk Cousins.

But instead of becoming a staple of the Falcons offense, Pitts has disappointed with 196 catches for 2,651 yards and 10 touchdowns in four seasons. Coming up on the final year of his rookie contract, the 24-year-old is a popular trade candidate but may have an unlikely supporter in quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. Voices Support for Kyle Pitts Heading Into 2025

Penix was asked about his opinion of Pitts when he appeared on NBC’s “Pro Football Talk” and sounded like someone who expects the disappointing tight end to return in 2025.

“I’m going to believe in him,” Penix said of Pitts. “He knows that. I just talked to him the other day about some of the things that we want to do and it’s like, allright, I’m going to give you my all each and every day and I want you to do the same. Once we do that, our connection is going to continue to build.”

Penix’s comments are a sign of leadership as he enters his first full year as a starter after being selected with the eighth overall pick in last year’s draft. While the Falcons have to navigate another quarterback issue, Penix will be the guy throwing the ball to Pitts if he returns next season and he’ll have to find a way to unlock his talent.

That’s been a task no quarterback has conquered during Pitts’ time in Atlanta. Pitts met expectations with 68 catches for 1,026 yards but just one touchdown during a Pro Bowl rookie season in 2021 but has just 128 catches for 1,625 yards and nine touchdowns over his past three seasons.

Pro Football Focus also isn’t keen on Pitts’ performance, ranking him 35th out of 45 qualifying tight ends with a 59.6 overall grade last season.

With a $10.8 million cap hit for next season, it may be hard to find a trade partner for Pitts’ services. But the Falcons cap situation means they’ll have to cut somewhere and the player they expected to be a generational talent may have to continue his career somewhere else.

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