Former Florida football and current
Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts is entering what could be the most consequential season of his NFL career. As outlined by Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Zoltán Buday, Pitts is one of 10 players across the league with the
most to prove in 2025. The former No. 4 overall pick in 2021 has yet to consistently match the high expectations he carried out of Gainesville. As a Gator, Pitts had 100 receptions for 1,492 yards and 18 touchdowns. He became Florida's all-time leader for receiving yards by a tight end, while ranking second in career receptions at the position. During the 2020 season, Pitts tied Florida's single-game record in receiving touchdowns (four against the
Ole Miss Rebels) and set the program's single-season touchdown record by a tight end (12), while ranking second in the SEC. Unfortunately, Pitts' college success hasn't exactly translated to the pro level. Over four seasons with the
Falcons , Pitts has recorded 196 receptions for 2,651 yards and 10 touchdowns. Now entering his contract year after Atlanta exercised his fifth-year option, Pitts must show that he can perform like a top-five draft pick and become a reliable offensive weapon for the Falcons. The 2025 season is all about delivering on potential–or possibly preparing for a change of scenery. Here is everything Buday said about Pitts and his performance thus far in his NFL career.
What PFF said about Pitts
"The former fourth-overall pick is entering the last year of his contract after the Falcons picked up his fifth-year option. However, Pitts has not lived up to his first-round status, let alone his top-five-pick status. While he earned an 80.3 PFF overall grade in his rookie campaign, which ranked fifth among tight ends, he has not been able to replicate that performance in his following three seasons. Over the past two seasons, Pitts posted a 65.3 PFF overall grade, which ranked only 26th among 52 qualifying tight ends. "The Florida alumnus endured his worst season in 2024, ranking 44th in PFF overall grade (59.6). He also averaged 1.32 receiving yards per route run, which placed him only 28th at the position. "Pitts will most likely have to prove in Michael Penix Jr.’s first full season as a starting quarterback that he can be among the best receiving tight ends in the league in order to earn an extension with the Falcons."
Other players mentioned by PFF
Along with Pitts, other NFL players that were mentioned by PFF with the most to prove in the 2025 season include
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams,
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence,
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson,
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk,
Las Vegas Raiders defender Maxx Crosby,
New York Jets defender Quinnen Williams,
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen and free agent corner back Jaire Alexander.
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