Pittsburgh, PA – April 21, 2025. The Pittsburgh Steelers have electrified their offseason, acquiring Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts in a blockbuster trade for a 2025 third-round pick (No. 83) and a 2026 fifth-rounder, sources confirmed to ESPN Tuesday. The move bolsters an offense seeking playmakers after a 2024 wild-card loss.
Pitts, 24, joins a revamped Steelers attack featuring DK Metcalf and a new quarterback still to be determined. The former No. 4 overall pick in 2021, carrying a $10.5 million cap hit in his final rookie contract year, adds a dynamic dimension to Pittsburgh’s tight end room.
Pitts’ arrival changes our offensive identity, coach Mike Tomlin told reporters.
The Steelers’ tight end group, led by Pat Freiermuth with Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward as depth, gains a versatile weapon in Pitts. His 2024 output—602 yards, four touchdowns on 47 catches—was modest, but his 1,000-yard rookie season in 2021 signals untapped potential.
He’s a mismatch nightmare waiting to erupt, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said.
Atlanta, eyeing cap relief and a youth movement, traded Pitts before his 2026 free agency. General manager Omar Khan, with $2 million in cap space, restructured Metcalf’s deal to fit Pitts, betting on a revival under Arthur Smith, Pitts’ former Falcons coach in 2021-2022.
This trade unlocks Kyle’s ceiling, NFL analyst Matt Miller noted.
Pitts’ move-tight-end skill set—6’6”, 4.44 40-dash—complements Freiermuth’s blocking, creating a dual-threat TE tandem. His 14.2 yards per catch in 2023 could stretch defenses, easing pressure on a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Mason Rudolph in 2025.
Pitts and Freiermuth will be unstoppable, Khan said at the NFL Owners Meetings.
The trade cements Pittsburgh’s push to end an eight-year playoff win drought. With Pitts alongside Metcalf, the Steelers’ 19th-ranked passing game gains firepower, setting the stage for a bold AFC run as Khan continues to reshape the roster.
