Falcons pass on Pitts in The 33rd Team’s 2021 NFL…

Falcons pass on Pitts in The 33rd Team’s 2021 NFL re-draft

Three years ago, the Atlanta Falcons kicked off the Arthur Smith era by selecting tight end Kyle Pitts with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Scouts unanimously declared Pitts a generational talent at the tight end position and after his rookie season, it was hard to argue.

The former Florida star topped 1,000 receiving yards in 2021, finishing the year as the Falcons’ leading receiver. However, Pitts became less effective after the team traded away quarterback Matt Ryan in 2022.

Pitts recorded just 357 receiving yards before tearing his MCL during the 10th game of his sophomore season. While his numbers improved in 2023 (667 receiving yards), there was a clear lack of chemistry between the young tight end and QB Desmond Ridder.

Entering his fourth season, Pitts has a chance to thrive playing with Kirk Cousins. The 23-year-old’s future remains bright, but would the Falcons still take him with the No. 4 pick if given a second chance?

The 33rd Team’s Marcus Mosher released a 2021 NFL re-draft in which Atlanta passes on Pitts for wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase:

Kyle Pitts had a historic rookie season for the Falcons, but giving them arguably the best receiver in the league is a no-brainer. Ja’Marr Chase has been dominant since he stepped onto the field and would be a fantastic pick at No. 4. — Marcus Mosher, The 33rd Team

Chase, who was selected one spot later by the Cincinnati Bengals, has been wildly productive over his first three NFL seasons. The former LSU star has recorded 268 catches for 3,717 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns since entering the league in 2021.

It’s hard to argue that Chase wouldn’t have been a better pick for the Falcons. The team traded away wide receiver Julio Jones a few months after the draft and Calvin Ridley only played five games for Atlanta that season.

Pitts fell nine spots to the Los Angeles Chargers (pick No. 13) in The 33rd Team’s re-draft. Pairing Pitts with quarterback Justin Herbert is an intriguing concept here from Mosher:

Kyle Pitts was the first tight end since Mike Ditka to post 1,000 yards during his rookie season. Injuries have sidetracked his career since, but he would be a perfect fit alongside Justin Herbert for the foreseeable future. Can you imagine the numbers Pitts would post if he played with Herbert for his entire career?

Perhaps a wide receiver would have been a better option, but hindsight is 20/20 and there’s no going back for Atlanta. Since the team picked up Pitts’ fifth-year option, he’ll be here for at least the next two seasons.