Kyle Pitts Now Makes the Most Guaranteed Money of Any Tight End in the NFL
No. 4 overall pick Kyle Pitts is officially an Atlanta Falcon, as the team announced Tuesday it had signed Pitts to a four-year, $32.9 million contract with the standard fifth-year option for NFL rookies. The deal is fully guaranteed, which actually means Pitts currently has the most guaranteed money of any tight end in the League.
I think this is going to work. I really do. But damn, when you look at the names and numbers on that list, it sure as hell better work. George Kittle had $40 million guaranteed at the start of his contract, but he's a year into it. So as things stand, no team owes more guaranteed cash to its tight end than the Falcons — and Pitts has yet to play a game.
And put aside guaranteed money, Pitts just straight-up makes more than Darren Waller, who's been one of the best tight ends in the NFL for several years now. Waller signed a four-year, $29.8 million contract during the 2019 season.
Everything you see on Pitts' tape from Florida and hear from the Falcons leads you to believe he's going to be a star from Day One. But nobody ever knows what expectations like the ones Pitts has had foisted upon him will do to a player, much less someone who's the highest-drafted player ever at his position.
I believe in Kyle Pitts. I don't really have a choice, but I do.