The 2025 NFL season will be a big year for several players around the league, including Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts.
Anyone who follows the Falcons knows that Pitts' future is up in the air. The former 2021 fourth-overall pick's name has been involved in trade rumors as he heads into the final season of his rookie contract. Even if Atlanta keeps him through the offseason, failing to turn his career around could see him walk as a free agent next spring.
Fortunately, Pitts' latest social media post seems to indicate that he'll do whatever it takes to return to form this fall.
Falcons News: Kyle Pitts Makes Declaration for 2025 Season
On Saturday night, Pitts made an Instagram post that made it clear he's focused on a bounce-back performance in 2025.
"Year 4 had its ups and downs, but we prevailed," Pitts wrote in the caption. "Year 5, I'm coming 10x harder than I ever did."
Contract year for Kyle Pitts. pic.twitter.com/mKQyUE4kLg
— Rise Up Penix (@RiseUpReader) March 15, 2025
Although Falcons fans were encouraged to see Pitts' commitment, they weren't the only ones showing support for the fifth-year TE. Some of his Atlanta teammates commented to show their support, with running back Bijan Robinson saying, "Hear that!" while kicker Younghoe Koo posted an arm-flexing emoji.
While he's been frustrating to watch in recent years, Falcons fans' complaints would disappear if Pitts returns to his rookie form next season. The ex-Florida Gator burst onto the NFL with 68 catches for 1,026 receiving yards and a touchdown in Year 1, only to post a 128-1,625-9 stat line in 44 games across the last three campaigns.
The 2024 season was particularly disappointing for Pitts, who averaged career lows in receptions (2.8) and receiving yards (35.4) in 17 appearances. Additionally, he graded unfavorably among tight ends when it came to Pro Football Focus categories like receiving (63.9, 33rd) and overall offense (59.6, 44th).
Pitts is far from the NFL's worst TE, but that doesn't excuse that his performances don't align with his first-round pedigree. He was supposed to be the Falcons' franchise TE for a decade-plus; not just another guy on the offense.
According to OverTheCap, Pitts will be making over $10.8 million in guaranteed salary next season. He must step up if he wants to earn a similar annual amount (or even more) on his next NFL contract, whether that's with the Falcons or another franchise in free agency 2026.