With the Atlanta Falcons finally knowing without a shadow of a doubt that Tua Tagovailoawill be the starting quarterback for Week 1, that leaves the offense with clarity on who they'll be getting their catches from. Tagovailoa being the starter could bode well for a few players on the team, but Kyle Pitts has a chance to make the biggest impact of them all.
It was evident during the preseason that Pitts could get a lot of targets with Tagovailoa in control. Against the Denver Broncos, Pitts was targeted four times, catching three passes for 22 yards. When Tagovailoa looked to be in trouble, Pitts was right there to be his security blanket, and he was able to make the most of his touches.
The same happened against the Miami Dolphins, where Pitts had three catches for 59 yards. Tagovailoa found the tight end in short-pass situations, and Pitts turned them into long-yardage situations. Whether that's a product of the quarterback or the offensive system, Pitts could be in for a big season.
Kyle Pitts is primed for a big season
It was a solid season for Pitts last year, and most of his yards came after Drake London missed time. With no sure option at WR2, Pittsbecame the go-to target for Kirk Cousins, and he ended up having one of the better seasons of his career since he was a rookie.
Many have been waiting for Pitts to get back to that kind of production, and this season might be the time when he's truly able to flourish. Tagovailoa likes to work the field in short-yardage situations, and Pitts could eat off of those plays. He's not the typical tight end, because he can turn on his speed and get down the field if he has to.
Who can the Falcons rely on in the pass game?
The Falcons have more options who could possibly step up at receiver alongside London, such as Jahan Dotson, Zachariah Branch and Olamide Zaccheaus, but it's uncertain how much of an impact they'll have on the passing game. It's also uncertain if Tagovailoa will be looking for them as much, which could bring Pitts' targets up this season.
It wouldn't be a surprise if Pitts ended up having another All-Pro season, but of course, it all depends on the quarterback situation for the Falcons. Pitts has played with several different quarterbacks throughout his career and hasn't had much consistency, which could be a reason for the up-and-down stats throughout his career.
If Pitts can get Tagovailoa throwing him the ball for most of the season, and if it looks like anything close to what happened in the preseason, watch out for a big year from the tight end.
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