Falcons Near Three-Team Trade Sending Kyle Pitts, Acquiring $29M Replacement

The Atlanta Falcons are actively exploring trades involving two key players, Kirk Cousins and Kyle Pitts, as they seek to alleviate salary cap pressures and improve team performance. Cousins, with a hefty $27.5 million salary, remains the primary trade target, while Pitts has drawn interest due to struggles fitting into Atlanta’s offense, though he has not requested a trade. Various three-team trade scenarios have been proposed, including one that would send Pitts to the Cincinnati Bengals, bringing veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to Atlanta, and another that could bring tight end Dawson Knox to the Falcons to replace Pitts if traded. Critics argue that the Falcons missed an opportunity by selecting Pitts over edge rusher Micah Parsons in the 2021 draft, given the team's ongoing pass-rushing deficiencies. Despite Pitts' challenges, some analysts defend him and suggest he could flourish in a different offensive system. The Falcons' trade decisions regarding Cousins and Pitts are poised to significantly reshape the team's roster and future trajectory.