Falcons fleece Chiefs for extra picks in Kyle Pitts trade proposal
Falcons send Kyle Pitts to AFC West contender for picks in proposed trade scenario
One big reason why the Atlanta Falcons haven't been back to the playoffs since 2017 is their relatively poor returns in the draft. While they hit on Bijan Robinson and Drake London, other first-round picks have either totally failed on the field like Takk McKinley, derailed their careers with off-field issues like James Pearce Jr. or come up short of expectations.
The last of those scenarios applies to tight end Kyle Pitts, who Atlanta took at No. 4 overall back in 2021. Since then Pitts has appeared in 78 games for the Falcons, putting up 284 catches, 3,579 yards and 15 touchdowns.
While they're not terrible numbers, Pitts hasn't made the kind of consistent impact that you would expect from a top-five pick. Even though Pitts led the team with 88 receptions and 928 receiving yards last season, Atlanta may still be hesitant to hand the athletic tight end a long-term deal. A new trade scenario from Fantasy Sports on SI qualifies as a coup for the Falcons.
Thomas Carelli has Atlanta sending Pitts to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2026 second and a 2027 fourth-round pick. We know Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham prioritizes draft picks, and the team has just five total selections in 2026. Here's why the Falcons would love it, per Carelli.