Over the past two seasons, the Atlanta Falcons have been projected to be one of the better offenses in the NFL. This is because they possess wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts, two weapons selected within the top 10. Unfortunately, Pitts has failed to live up to being selected 4th overall due to poor play and nad offensive play calling.
That said, keeping Pitts beyond 2025 may have just become more difficult for the Falcons. On Thursday, the Arizona Cardinals signed Trey McBride to a four-year $75 million extension, making him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history, according to Adam Schefter. While McBride has been the more productive player, his contract raises the market value, meaning Pitts is bound to ask for me.
Arizona Cardinals are making Pro-Bowl TE Trey McBride the highest-paid tight end in NFL history with a four-year, $76 million extension, per agents @MSWENSON78 @CJLaBoy @dhendrickson41 of @wassermannfl.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2025
The deal includes $43 million guaranteed and a $19 million average per year,… pic.twitter.com/Gil0BQKxhq
Falcons Might Have to Pay More to Keep Kyle Pitts After Trey McBride's Extension
The Arizona Cardinals selected McBride with the 55th pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Thus, making him ineligible for a fifth-year option, meaning a contract needed to be given to him before one was required for Pitts. Be that as it may, the former Colorado State product earned the extension through his play.
In three seasons, McBride has recorded a catch rate of 75% (221 receptions on 292 targets) for 2,236 yards and six touchdowns. In 2024, he put together his best season, totaling 111 receptions on 147 targets for 1,146 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, McBride also put together a 2023 season with over 800 receiving yards.
Pitts, on the other hand, has slightly more yards and touchdowns but has been less reliable than McBride throughout his career. In four seasons, Pitts has recorded a catch rate of 58.8% (196 receptions on 333 targets) for 2,651 and 10 touchdowns. The fact Pitts hasn't clearly outperformed McBride despite being a much higher draft pick proves that the Falcons may have over-selected him.
Nonetheless, if Atlanta isn't planning to give up on Pitts after 2025, they will need to give him more money than they had originally planned for before the McBride contract was given out