Kyle Pitts’ highlight reception provides a glimpse into the future

Kyle Pitts didn’t quite have the coming-out party many hoped he would in his first regular-season appearance. After all, the highest tight end draft in NFL history isn’t supposed to put up anything less than 100 yards and a touchdown every week, right? Well, even though he was targeted eight times in Week 1, Pitts was only able to haul in half of them. It was a largely poor performance for the entire offense during the season opener, and Pitts was no different.

During the first red zone possession of the year, the man with the longest wingspan in combine history wasn’t on the field. Arthur Smith acknowledged that and made an effort to get his brand new toy involved early and often in Week 2. Pitts still had a quiet game but did lead the team in receiving — 73 yards on five receptions. We are still waiting for his statement game where he introduces himself to the NFL, but we saw a glimpse of what the future could hold against the Buccaneers.

Midway through the second quarter, the Falcons faced a third and seven inside their 20-yard line. The offense came out in 11 personnel with Cordarrelle Patterson flanking Matt Ryan in the shotgun and Kyle Pitts in the slot; the call was a slant that Pitts broke off three yards down the field. He quickly got by Lavonte David in the slot, but Devin White was creeping from his inside linebacker position. There was a narrow window for Matt Ryan to fit the ball between White and David, but that window was slightly behind Pitts. Ryan threw it perfectly between the defenders, a yard or two behind Pitts, who reached back with one arm and hauled it in. White and David collided as Pitts accelerated for 20 more yards in the blink of an eye.

https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1439699434024095746?s=20

Pitts still hasn’t caught a touchdown or gone over 100 yards in a game, but this display of athleticism and concentration to snag a pass behind him then turn on the jets to hurry for another 20 yards is wildly impressive. It shows precisely why the Falcons drafted him as high as they did.