Kyle Pitts Just Got $54 Million. He Says the Best Is Still Ahead.

Kyle Pitts is staying in Atlanta, and he’s not shy about what he thinks is coming next.

The Falcons tight end signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension this week, locking him in as a centerpiece of the offense. It’s a big bet by the organization — one that keeps one of the league’s most physically gifted pass catchers in the building while the quarterback situation remains anything but settled.

Pitts, now 28, spoke Monday about the deal and what it means. He didn’t pretend he’d already arrived.

“It was more so, ‘OK, that was my opportunity that Atlanta picked it back up to give me another year to showcase,’” Pitts said, per Daniel Flick of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “And then it was just time to squeeze the rag and just grind. I was fortunate I got the call and the interest in the long term, and when it happened, it was pretty great.”

Then came the part that should get Falcons fans leaning forward.

“I think there’s a lot more out there, a lot more to get, and a lot more things to keep grinding towards. It’s cool to see.”

A career year — and room to grow

Last season was Pitts’ best as a pro. He hauled in 88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs. That yardage total was his highest since a 1,026-yard rookie campaign back in 2021-22. So the trajectory is real, even if the production hasn’t quite matched the pre-draft hype that followed him out of Florida.

The Falcons are clearly banking on that trajectory continuing. They didn’t hand a tight end this kind of money based on past reputation alone. They’re betting on the version of Pitts who looks like a matchup problem every time he lines up, not just occasionally.

The quarterback question won’t go away

None of this matters much if Atlanta can’t get steady play under center. Michael Penix Jr. is coming off an injury and could get the first crack at the starting job. But there’s a new head coach and general manager in place. Nobody should be surprised if the new regime decides to move on from the Penix experiment sooner than expected.

The Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa this offseason, which complicates things further. It feels like a team that’s still shopping for an answer, even with a $54 million tight end in the fold.

Whoever ends up throwing the ball, the offensive pecking order is pretty clear. Pitts and wide receiver Drake London are the top two targets. That’s a lot of responsibility for a tight end who’s been good but not dominant. But with this new contract, the expectations are no longer theoretical.

Pitts got paid. Now he has to prove he was right.