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An NFL analyst suggested a Kansas City Chiefs trade ahead of training camp.
The Kansas City Chiefs offense is still working its way back to being feared around the NFL, so why not try and trade for one more unique pass-catcher for Patrick Mahomes ahead of training camp?
That was the theory behind a trade proposal from Bleacher Report analyst Mitch Milani on June 24, which he detailed on his B/R NFL Daily Live Show.
“Kyle Pitts on the move to Kansas City,” Milani pitched. “I propose a fourth-round pick and sixth-round pick to the [Atlanta] Falcons for the former highly, highly drafted tight end prospect who hasn’t quite lived up to his potential.”
Starting with the obvious — Travis Kelce’s age and potential retirement in 2026 — Milani went on to explain why he likes the 6-foot-6 Pitts as a fit for KC.
“Kyle Pitts could be the next guy [after Kelce], and wouldn’t that be so savvy of the Chiefs to acquire a former top-five pick at a position like tight end?” He noted. Reminding that some experts thought Pitts would be the next Rob Gronkowski or Kelce when he first entered the league.
“[Pitts] has not lived up to it,” Milani admitted. Relaying: “He had 1,000 yards as a rookie, but as recently as last year, he was the 44th graded tight end in football. He was third [to] last in [yards after catch] per reception. And he was seventh-worst in passer rating when targeted.”
“So, he was really bad last year for the Falcons,” the Bleacher Report analyst acknowledged before adding that “I think a lot of Falcons fans would even agree that Kyle Pitts has been poorly treated and poorly utilized.”
That’s where head coach Andy Reid’s success with tight ends comes into play.
Kyle Pitts Would Fit Tight End Mold That Chiefs HC Andy Reid Is Constantly Searching For
Every season, the Chiefs bring in athletic pass-catching tight ends who don’t tend to block all that much. Kelce started as one of those, but the most recent of these signings was the return of Geor’Quarius Spivey.
Not to mention other attempts over the years like Jody Fortson, Demetrius Harris, and current second-year draft pick Jared Wiley, among others. Pitts would fit that mold to a T.
“Why not give [Pitts] to a team with Andy Reid, [who] has used Travis Kelce magnificently,” Milani continued on his stream. “And use him in that way where he’s getting one-on-ones consistently. Right? You’re creating run-and-catch plays for him… And you’re using [Pitts] in a way that’s going to suit him best.”
Milani eventually concluded that Pitts’ skillset isn’t “too far off” from Kelce’s, especially if he learned from the TE legend firsthand before he retires.
In this scenario, Noah Gray would still serve as the top dual-threat tight end of the Chiefs’ future, due to his blocking prowess, but Pitts would pretty much replace Wiley as Kelce’s likely successor in the No. 1 pass-catching role.
A Kyle Pitts Chiefs Trade Would Likely Include an Extension
Pitts is playing out the fifth and final option year of his rookie contract, so the Chiefs would probably want to extend him if they’re going to give up draft capital for him.
His current cap hit is doable, at $10.878 million in 2025, but an extension would certainly lower that number significantly.
So, from a financial perspective, this trade suggestion seems feasible.
It’s easy to forget how young Pitts still is, too. The former first-round talent only turns 25 years old in October, and still has plenty of potential despite his early inconsistency at the NFL level.
Given general manager Brett Veach’s propensity for acquiring former high-end draft busts, this type of Chiefs trade would not be out of the realm of possibility. But it all depends on whether Coach Reid views Pitts as fixable.
Michael Obermuller covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on years of coverage. Michael is an NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate. More about Michael Obermuller
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