Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has found himself in the middle of massive trade speculation after the former first-round pick failed to report to his team’s voluntary organized team activities.
Pitts, 24, was selected by the Falcons with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, making him the highest-drafted tight end in league history. He was a unicorn of sorts coming out of Florida, as he blended a wide receiver’s skill set in a massive tight end body.
Unfortunately, Pitts’ career hasn’t gone as projected. After bursting onto the scene as a rookie with 1,026 yards and one touchdown, he’s failed to top 667 receiving yards in any of his three seasons since. He did set a career high in touchdown receptions last year with four, but there’s little debate about him being a massive NFL draft bust so far.
đ¨NEWS: The #Falcons expect tight end Kyle Pitts to BREAK OUT this season, Atlanta OC Zac Robinson says.
âI’m expecting Kyle to take a big jump. You know, Year 2 of the system. Year 2 of understanding what we’re trying to do offensivelyâ
Pitts was the 2021 4th overall pick. pic.twitter.com/kxBgmg55K2
â MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 6, 2025
But he still has trade value, and the New York Giants are one of the three teams listed as a potential trade partner in a recent breakdown by CBS Sports.
“Are the Giants in a position to pay for immediate help?” CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin wrote. “They may be short on salary cap space, but Pitts’ appeal, at age 24, is that he could also stick around for the long term. Head coach Brian Daboll would surely be OK pairing the big man with Malik Nabers, giving Russell Wilson an added safety valve for an offense sorely lacking secondary playmakers over the last few years.
“Assuming this link-up would extend beyond 2025, Pitts’ arrival would also bode well for Jaxson Dart, the presumptive quarterback of the future.”
The Giants would make some sense as a landing spot for Pitts’ reclamation project, but there are high hopes for Theo Johnson, who New York selected in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. Johnson was trending up during his rookie season before a Lisfranc injury ended his year prematurely, but he’s 100% healthy and looking good in offseason workouts.
Still, there’s no denying Pitts’ raw traits will appeal to Daboll and the Giants’ offensive coaching staff. Even if he never fulfills his lofty scouting report, Pitts can still be a dangerous weapon if deployed properly. And with Daboll’s offensive acumen, there’s a good chance he’d figure out the right way to use the former Florida Gators star.
If the price for Kyle Pitts is right, the Giants would be foolish not to inquire. But if the Falcons are holding out for a Day 2 pick for a player who’s proven to be nothing more than an average starter, they’re going to be waiting for a while.
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