Robinson: Atlanta Falcons’ Kyle Pitts wants to be a ‘complete tight end’ | Sports

FLOWER BRANCH — Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has had his share of ups and downs over the first three seasons of his professional career.

The highest-drafted tight end in NFL history, Atlanta selected Pitts fourth overall in 2021. As a rookie, he lived up to most of the hype surrounding him.

But since then, he has been troubled by a knee injury and poor quarterback play.

In his lone season with Matt Ryan under center, Pitts recorded career bests with 68 receptions and 1,026 yards en route to earning Pro Bowl honors. He was the first rookie tight end selected to the Pro Bowl since Jeremy Shockey in 2002.

Even during his stellar rookie campaign, he received some criticism. Pitts has scored just one touchdown this season, in Atlanta’s Week 5 game against the Jets in London.

Although Pitts became the only rookie in Falcons history to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards and only the second rookie tight end to do so in NFL history, the lack of touchdowns scored left much to be desired in the eyes of a lot.

With expectations then much higher, year two was a downturn for Pitts, who never seemed to get along with Marcus Mariota or be used as a focal point in Arthur Smith’s offense.

In Atlanta’s Week 11 game against Chicago, Pitts left the game early with a knee injury that was later revealed to be a torn MCL. After just 10 games in 2022, his season ended.

An unfortunate follow-up to an exceptional freshman year, Pitts finished the season with what still stands as a career-low 28 receptions and 356 yards.

Heading into his third season, the biggest questions surrounding Pitts were not only his health, but also how he would fit in with another new face at quarterback, Desmond Ridder. As it turned out, both answers were the opposite of what the Falcons and their fans wanted.

Pitts began the 2023 campaign still nursing the knee injury that caused him to miss the end of 2022, not appearing to be 100% until the end of the season, if at all.

Additionally, Ridder’s play was poor, as the 2022 third-round pick was replaced by backup Taylor Heinicke at times and was benched in place of Heinicke at others.

The Falcons finished the season 7-10 and once again looked for an answer at quarterback. Pitts finished his third year as a professional, recording 667 receiving yards on 53 receptions and setting a new career high with three touchdowns.

The talk around Pitts this offseason has nothing to do with that in preparation for his sophomore year. With the lack of production in back-to-back seasons, many jumped on the bandwagon calling Pitts a “bust.”

Although the noise outside is loud and is heard by Atlanta’s Pro Bowl tight end, he doesn’t believe there is anything to prove in 2024.

“I wouldn’t go as far as ‘something to prove,’ but for me, I just want better,” Pitts said Monday after OTAs.

With a new quarterback again and now a new coaching staff, the level of enthusiasm around Pitts appears to have been rejuvenated. Having Kirk Cousins ​​certainly helps.

Cousins ​​is known during his career for often targeting tight ends, regardless of their talent or production.

Last season, Cousins ​​targeted tight ends on nearly 27% of his passes (CBSsports.com), which ranks fifth in the league. Since 2015, Cousins ​​ranks first in pass attempts targeting tight ends and fourth in yards and touchdowns thrown to players at the position.

In Minnesota, Cousins ​​played with tight ends such as Tyler Conklin, Kyle Rudolph and TJ Hockenson. A recurring theme with these tight ends, they all had some of their best years as a pro with Cousins ​​handing them the ball.

Now fully healthy for 2024 and arguably Atlanta’s most talented receiver, Pitts could follow the trend this season.

With first-year offensive coordinator Zac Robinson implementing his system and calling the plays, Pitts’ role in the offense remains to be seen. But his versatility as a receiver and blocker bodes well for him.

“It’s unique because he’s a really great athlete,” Robinson said. “People don’t understand how good a blocker he can be and he’s embraced that role and I think he can be a real complete tight end.”

The biggest conversation around Pitts during the Arthur Smith era was how the Falcons could find ways to get him more involved and why it felt like he wasn’t a key part of the offensive.

Much of his potential involvement in 2024 goes back to Cousins’ impact and now Pitts’ ability to be a complete tight end, as Robinson said.

“I think it’s just about being a tight end and that’s what (Pitts) wants to be,” Robinson said of Pitts’ increased involvement. “Whether he’s the primary target, the back target, we have a quarterback that’s going to get the ball where it’s supposed to go.”

Robinson went on to later say, “The ball is going to go where it’s supposed to go based on the coverage. Kirk can click progressions so well that (Pitts) could have six targets in a play, seven targets in a play, and two, he was the lead (target) and the other one, he was the back. It just depends on the coverage.