The Atlanta Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The tight end came into the league with high expectations but is struggling to live up to the lofty draft status so far.
Michael Penix Jr. made his NFL debut for the Falcons today, and a costly error from Pitts ruined a perfect start for the rookie quarterback. The 24-year-old tight end was not able to catch a throw from Penix and ended up juggling it to the New York Giants’ defense for an interception.
Fans React to Kyle Pitts’ Mistake Against the New York Giants
Pitts was heavily criticized on social media for the mistake he made against the Giants. The fans were quite unhappy with his development so far.
Here are some of the reactions:
Kyle Pitts is utterly atrocious at football pic.twitter.com/XBLsaZcChM
— Matt Gajewski (@Matt_Gajewski) December 22, 2024
“Does Kyle Pitts have the Giants money line?” wrote NFL analyst Albert Breer via X (formerly known as Twitter).
“He may be one of the league’s biggest busts after the draft hype when he came out,” said one fan about Pitts.
Doesn’t count as an interception, get Pitts off this team
— Matt (@tempywtw) December 22, 2024
“Kyle Pitts is hilariously bad,” said a fan.
Another fan added, “Kyle Pitts ruined Penix’s perfect game.”
Kyle Pitts will be in Canada next season, I’m done with this guy man
— Mabz (@BruhMabz) December 22, 2024
Pitts had a solid rookie season but has played subpar football since then. In 15 games this year, he has 543 yards and has scored three touchdowns, averaging 36.2 receiving yards per game.
Since drafting Pitts, the Falcons have had numerous quarterbacks, and apart from Matt Ryan, no other player has been able to get the most out of the Florida product.
The Falcons are not guaranteed to make the playoffs. Pitts’ performances in the last two games of the regular season with Penix as the quarterback will be crucial in dictating his future with the team.
Bijan Robinson Stepped Up To Help Michael Penix Jr. in Week 16
Pitts was a no-show in Penix’s debut against the Giants, but star running back Bijan Robinson had a big game and helped the team to get the win. The second-year running back rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries as Atlanta came away with a 34-7 win.
Robinson has had an impressive sophomore season in the league. He has rushed for 1,196 yards and has scored 10 rushing touchdowns in 15 games this year, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also has 56 receptions for 420 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old running back was also an early first-round pick, and unlike Pitts, Robinson is living up to the pre-draft hype around him.
Penix was 18/27 passing for 202 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception, but his performance left a good impression. The Falcons benched Kirk Cousins after last week’s win against the Las Vegas Raiders, and the veteran quarterback is expected to be released by the team after the season.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal last offseason and will now look to find a new team if he continues to play football. The Falcons’ bold decision to draft Penix with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is paying them dividends now, and hopefully, he’ll continue to play well and become their franchise quarterback.