© Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Pitts could have Huge Season with Morris, Cousins
New Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris hints that tight end Kyle Pitts could have a huge season.
The Atlanta Falcons made Kyle Pitts the highest drafted tight end in history when they took him No. 4 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
He was excellent as a rookie with quarterback Matt Ryan as he became just the second tight end in history, behind Mike Ditka, to have over 1,000 yards his first year.
Ryan was shipped to the Indianapolis Colts, Marcus Mariota was brought in as quarterback, and Pitts suffered a knee injury. He had 1,026-receiving yards as a rookie, but he has just 1,023 the past two seasons combined.
On paper, the Falcons have massively upgraded at quarterback from Mariota and Desmond Ridder in the form of Kirk Cousins. Raheem Morris is the new head coach, and he brought offensive coordinator Zac Robinson with him from the LA Rams.
Pitts could be in for a huge season, justifying his lofty draft position. Morris sat down with reporter Steve Wyche for an interview this week and said Pitts is a big part of the Falcons' plans in 2024.
"When you think about Kyle Pitts, you know what he is: big, friendly target that can catch the ball and run. Make the impossible catches in the red zone," said Morris. "There's going to be a plan to use those guys. There's going to be a plan to get those guys all involved... in particularly him.
"He'll be a focal point of what we want to do. We're not going to sit here and give you any outrageous stat or how many times we're going to give him the ball, but he'll certainly be a part of it.
"He is well versed in what he wants to do and how he wants to play, and now he's just getting better and maturing even more since I've even been in the building now."
Morris has a lot of experience in the NFL as a defensive coordinator and working with defensive backs in particular. Wyche asked him how excited he was to work with cornerback A.J. Terrell and safety Jessie Bates.
"I left A.J. here when we drafted him as a rookie, and he was one of the most impressive guys that I've been around from a rookie standpoint, especially in the secondary with the maturity, how he played, how he worked," said Morris.
"I can't wait to move forward with him."
"But watching Jessie last year play was outstanding," said Morris. "He got a chance to go to Atlanta and really show the world who he was and how much of a playmaker he is, how smart he is, how unique he is. I'm really ecstatic to work with him as well.
"That room period, really fires me up."
Wyche asked Morris which was more important to him with the No. 8 overall pick, putting pressure on the quarterback or locking up a receiver.
Morris wasn't having it.
"You're dealing with a veteran reporter here, and he's trying to ask me who we're picking at eight," joked Morris. "We're absolutely not going to give it (away). We'll take the best player there for us, and we will always stick to that. To put us in a corner that pigeon holes us at a position would be unfair to the work and the processes that put on throughout the building since I've been there."
The Atlanta Falcons are in a good spot with the No. 8 pick in the draft. They can address their glaring need at edge rusher or possibly get a premier playmaker at wide receiver if one of Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers falls.
Ideally, the Falcons could move back into the 10-12 range, add another-second-round pick and still get one of the top edge rushers like Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, or Laiatu Latu.
With so much focus on free agency and the NFL Draft in recent weeks, it's easy to forget how much talent the Falcons have accumulated under general manager Terry Fontenot.
According to Morris, Kyle Pitts won't be forgotten in 2024.
