​Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has experienced a roller-coaster career since entering the NFL. The former No. 4 overall pick flashed tantalizing potential as a rookie, posting a career-best 1,026 receiving yards. Yet he managed only one touchdown that season, and his production over the following three years didn’t quite match the high expectations attached to a top-five pick.
Last year, Pitts seemed poised for a breakout, delivering a new career-best with 88 receptions, 928 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. The Falcons appear convinced he’s ready to dominate, backing Pitts with a three-year extension worth up to $54 million. The move signals belief that Pitts can live up to the promise that made him such a high draft choice.
Pitts has also earned recognition across the league, landing a spot on ESPN’s annual top-10 tight ends list. He checked in at No. 8 this season after being unranked in 2025. “This is a welcome return to form for Pitts, who entered the league amid a great deal of fanfare in 2021, posted a 1,000-yard rookie season, and then endured several down years,” a current NFL coordinator said. “A nagging knee injury took him out of action for much of two seasons. If he’s confident and you believe in him, he will ball out. If he gets involved early, he can be the most dominant player on the field.”
The tight ends ranked ahead of him in the top 10 include Brock Bowers (Raiders), Trey McBride (Cardinals), George Kittle (49ers), Sam LaPorta (Lions), Tyler Warren (Colts), Tucker Kraft (Packers), and Colston Loveland (Bears). Veterans Mark Andrews (Ravens) and Travis Kelce (Chiefs) round out the list. Looking ahead, Pitts should still project as the Falcons’ No. 2 passing-option behind Drake London, with the team having invested no more than a third-round pick and a couple of inexpensive veterans at wide receiver in free agency.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Kyle Pitts returns to ESPN rankings of NFL’s top-10 tight ends for better SEO.