The Kansas City Chiefs face a pivotal moment as they prepare for what could be Travis Kelce’s final NFL season, with the star tight end nearing 36 years old. In light of this, speculation grows around potential Travis Kelce successor trade news, particularly involving the acquisition of rising tight end Kyle Pitts from the Atlanta Falcons.
Trade Proposal Highlights Kyle Pitts as a Key Acquisition Target
Bleacher Report’s Mitch Milani recently suggested several significant trades for the Chiefs aimed at helping Patrick Mahomes secure his fourth championship ring. Among these ideas is a proposed deal where the Chiefs would send multiple late-round 2026 draft picks to the Falcons in exchange for Pitts, a highly regarded young talent.
“Falcons fans would even agree that Kyle Pitts has been poorly treated and poorly utilized,”
Milani said.
“So why not give him to a team with Andy Reid that has used Travis Kelce magnificently?”
—Mitch Milani, Sports Analyst
Kyle Pitts was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by Atlanta, making him the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history. Despite this prestigious start, Pitts’s career has yet to meet expectations, largely due to what many see as ineffective use by the Falcons.
Kyle Pitts’ Struggles and the Falcons’ Utilization Issues
During the 2024 NFL season, Pitts recorded 602 receiving yards and four touchdowns—the highest touchdown total in his career to date. However, these numbers still fall short of what was anticipated when he entered the league. Observers widely believe that the Falcons have not maximized Pitts’s abilities as a tight end, leading to calls for a fresh start elsewhere.
Chiefs’ Offensive Strengths Could Unlock Pitts’ Potential
Andy Reid’s expertise in integrating star tight ends such as Travis Kelce into a high-powered offense positions the Chiefs as an ideal landing spot for Pitts. Considering Reid’s track record and the team’s status as reigning AFC champions, acquiring Pitts could serve as a vital step in sustaining Kansas City’s offensive dominance and planning for the future post-Kelce.
With Kelce’s career likely nearing its conclusion, the Chiefs could view Pitts as the long-term solution at the tight end spot, making this potential trade a blockbuster move with significant implications for the team’s trajectory in the coming years.