For the past two seasons, Kyle Pitts and the rest of the Atlanta Falcons have been coached by Raheem Morris. After back-to-back 8-9 seasons that finished without a playoff appearance, the Falcons have moved in a different direction.
No longer do they have a defensive-minded head coach. Now, they employ two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, who brings an offensive background to the table. Could it make a difference for Pitts, the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft?
Pitts is scheduled to become a free agent for the first time in his career, but there’s a sense that the Falcons won’t let their Pro Bowl tight end leave without getting something in return.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Falcons are now planning to place the franchise tag on Pitts this offseason. If so, it means he’ll get a salary of over $15 million. However, as Rapoport notes, the Falcons hope to still work out a long-term contract extension with Pitts rather than simply get him for another season.
The 25-year-old is coming off one of his best seasons, recording 88 receptions for 928 yards and five touchdowns. The hope is that he can not just match, but exceed those numbers playing in coach Stefanski’s offense. Yet, several other teams are envisioning bigger numbers for Pitts if he were to join their offense too.
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