Why Kyle Pitts' rough 2022 has nothing to do with him

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Pitts stop: Why Falcons TE's rough 2022 has nothing to do with him

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 11/17/22

To call Kyle Pitts' second year in the league a "sophomore slump" would be offensive to sophomore slumps.

Pitts, drafted fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, lived up to lofty expectations bestowed on anyone drafted that high during his rookie season.

With Matt Ryan at QB, Pitts had 68 catches for 1,026 yards and a touchdown. The only gripe about his game was his lack of touchdowns, but that problem looks quaint compared to what's happened in 2022.

Marcus Mariota was brought in to take over for Ryan and has been a major reason why Pitts' numbers nosedived. He has 25 catches for 313 yards and two touchdowns.

free Kyle Pitts!!! pic.twitter.com/Mxl1NbrQpw
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) November 17, 2022

ESPN's Mina Kimes made some key points on "NFL Live" to demonstrate how Atlanta is doing its star tight end a disservice and why it's imperative the team figures out how to best utilize Pitts sooner rather than later.

"I wanted to highlight catch rate rather than the opportunities because this goes beyond the frustration of fantasy football managers. You know, when Kyle Pitts is being given opportunities, the quarterback's not making the most of them. He only has two drops on the season. Marcus Mariota has been off target on over 25 percent of throws to Kyle Pitts. The last two games, that number has jumped to 47 percent! ... Pitts was the fourth overall draft pick. ... At some point they have to question, 'Are we getting enough production out of him or are we wasting his rookie contract?'"

Atlanta (4-6) is second in the awful NFC South and in the race for a division title. If it wants to surprise everyone and win the division, it will need Pitts to be a focal point. He was dominant as a rookie; there's no reason for him to be any less so with a year under his belt.

The Falcons squandering what looks like a sure thing? Some things never change.

More must-reads: