Steelers Trade Rumors: It's time to rescue Falcons TE Kyle Pitts
The Pittssburgh Steelers offense is about to get a lot better the next time they are on the field. But just because your arguably best WR is returning, it doesn't mean the team should grow complacent. That's where a trade for Falcons TE Kyle Pitts comes in. Let me explain: The Rationale Kyle Pitts was […]
The Pittssburgh Steelers offense is about to get a lot better the next time they are on the field.
But just because your arguably best WR is returning, it doesn't mean the team should grow complacent.
That's where a trade for Falcons TE Kyle Pitts comes in. Let me explain:
The Rationale
Kyle Pitts was the fourth overall selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft, was lauded as the best tight end prospect in a generation, had a rookie year that saw him total over 1000 receiving yards, and just turned 23 less than a week ago.
So why is he even being discussed as a potential trade candidate?
Well, Atlanta simply can't get him the ball:
Now, Pitts did have a fairly significant MCL injury during the 2022 season, but as you can see, he can still separate, isn't even fully recovered, and is still an ascending player in this league.
Yet Arthur Smith and the Falcons don't deploy him in a way that gets the most of his skillset. Coach Smith even brought in his former TE from his time with the Titans, Jonnu Smith, who currently has more receiving yards than Pitts.
So it's obvious these two are no longer a fit for each and other should separate. The question is how much will it cost?
Trade Value
Here's where Pitts becomes really enticing for Pittsburgh. They would likely have to part ways with a late day two (3rd round) or day three pick to get Pitts, who as we have laid out, is spry, returning to health and nowhere near his peak, making the compensation part a no-brainer.
Now to address the elephant in the room, what happens to Freiermuth? The truth is Muth is a solid tight end, but even before the injury that will leave him sidelined until late October at the earliest, he was struggling to separate, and seemingly regressed as a blocker:
And I know what you're saying. "Well, we have Darnell Washington for that."
That may be true, and I like Washington as much as anyone, but let's be clear here, he was a late third-round pick for a reason, just like Pitts was a top 5 pick at the same position for a reason.
Even if Washington develops into a better pass catcher, it won't be to the level that is innate within Pitts.
In the end, this trade would be very out of character for Pittsburgh, even with the more progressive Omar Khan at the head of the table.
But Pittsburgh needs help and they need it now. No one presents more of an immediate upgrade, at an affordable price, than Kyle Pitts.
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