Kyle Pitts named Falcons non-QB MVP by NFL.com

The Atlanta Falcons officially begin the post-Matt Ryan era in a few weeks and while questions remain about the future of the quarterback position, the team has a clear non-QB MVP heading into 2022 in former Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts.

NFL.com recently named Pitts their choice for the Falcons’ non-QB MVP and it’s definitely hard to argue.

“As a rookie, Pitts led the Falcons in targets (110), receptions (68) and receiving yards (1,026),” NFL writer Kevin Patra says. “With the dearth of difference-making wide receiver options in ATL in 2022, Pitts could blast those numbers out of the water. He could (should) become the first tight end with 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of his first two seasons and needs only 955 yards to break Mike Ditka’s record at the position through that span (1,980 over his first two campaigns).

“Yes, the QB situation takes a hit post-Matt Ryan, but with Pitts’ size, speed and playmaking ability, he has the talent to be a go-to target against any defense. He needs to be a bigger red-zone threat, however, after netting just one touchdown as a rookie.”

Kyle Pitts is working with a new quarterback in Marcus Mariota but he’s doing everything he can do personally to improve his game this offseason.

Pitts wants to improve mental side of game in Year 2

For Pitts, offseason improvement starts with his mentality. He’s watching more film, studying schemes and being active in position/team meetings in the hopes that it will translate to his game in 2022.

“Mentally, I’m trying to get better,” he said, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “There’s always room for improvement. … The mental, trying to dissect coverage faster. … The mental side helps you play faster, just knowing what the defense is going to do.”

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith backed up Pitts’ claims. He says he has seen a difference in the second-year tight end, on and off the field.

“He’s not facing the unknown,” Smith said. “With all these rookies, everything is new to them. New environment, new team, staff, terminology. You see Kyle, you saw him as he progressed through last season. I’ve said it many times, he’s just scratching the surface. You see a different player and mindset. He knows what to expect, what we expect from him. I’ve been really encouraged so far.”

Pitts showed explosiveness and then some while he was at Florida. In his final two seasons with the Gators, Pitts compiled 97 receptions for 1,419 yards and 17 touchdowns. He went No. 4 overall in the first round to the Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.