Could the Indianapolis Colts pull off a Kyle Pitts trade? Recently, ESPN’s Ben Solak predicted the Cincinnati Bengals will trade for the tight end this offseason. That would be a great trade for the Bengals as Pitts would provide Joe Burrow with another offensive weapon.
But a Kyle Pitts trade could also be an ideal move for the Colts. As every Colts fan knows, the team is in desperate need of a playmaking tight end. This season, Indianapolis had five tight ends on the roster: Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory, and Jelani Woods (who missed the year due to injury).
While the Colts have a handful of tight ends, none of them have emerged as an impact player. Woods has the potential to be a good player, but he has struggled to stay healthy.
Pitts would be an upgrade over all five players. It wouldn’t hurt for the Colts to try and trade for the former first-round pick.
The Indianapolis Colts Should Consider Making a Kyle Pitts Trade
His Career Thus Far
Kyle Pitts played three seasons with the Florida Gators. During his final year, he caught 43 passes for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was also a unanimous All-American and won the John Mackey Award.
The Atlanta Falcons selected Pitts fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He became the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history. Gaining 1,026 yards on 68 receptions, he was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Pitts hasn’t made the Pro Bowl since then. Yet, he has still put together a decent, but not spectacular career in Atlanta. This past season, he caught 47 passes for 602 yards and four touchdowns. He was instrumental in the Falcons’ Week 8 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recording 91 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Why the Colts Should Trade for Him
The Colts own the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Perhaps Penn State tight end Tyler Warren would be the perfect selection for the team. However, he could be gone before pick No. 14.
Instead of drafting a tight end, the Colts could go the trade route and land Pitts. Solak predicted the Bengals would send a Day 3 pick to Atlanta in a Pitts deal. A fourth-seventh-rounder wouldn’t be too much to give up for the Colts.
Again, Pitts would certainly be an upgrade over Indy’s current tight ends. He could team with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce to give quarterback Anthony Richardson a solid pass-catching corps to throw to.
Speaking of the Richardson-Pitts connection, they were teammates at the University of Florida for a season. That was Richardson’s freshman season and Pitts’ last year at the school. Pitts never caught a pass from Richardson, but knowing they were teammates could help them build chemistry.
Richardson has struggled mightily as a passer. The former fourth-overall pick completed 47.7 percent of his passes this season. Yeah, that’s not good at all. Richardson, though, has time to improve. A tight end like Pitts in the short passing game could help Richardson’s accuracy issues.
A Kyle Pitts trade isn’t imperative for the Colts. But they should consider such a move this offseason.
Main Photo: Geoff Burke – USA Today Sports
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