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Wild trade proposal lands Falcons TE with the Chiefs.

With the NFL trade deadline fast approaching, teams are preparing to make bold moves in hopes of improving their playoff chances. Sitting at 3-3 after their Week 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Atlanta Falcons find themselves caught between being buyers and sellers.

The Falcons haven’t reached the postseason in seven years — one of the longest active droughts across all major sports. The team has been the very definition of mediocre for the better part of a decade. Perhaps Week 8’s matchup against the 1-6 Miami Dolphins will offer a clearer picture of where they stand.

“The Atlanta Falcons are another team that could look to add a depth piece, but overall are more likely to stay the course at 3-3 and roll with what they have. That’s especially true after trading away its 2026 first-round pick at the draft last spring,” CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan wrote.

Nevertheless, if the Falcons do decide to make a move before the deadline, one player could attract the attention of a team looking for Super Bowl redemption.

Trade Proposal Lands Kyle Pitts With Chiefs

During the offseason, Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was the subject of trade rumors. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported back in May that “multiple teams” had reached out to Atlanta about the former No. 4 overall pick. Those talks, however, never went anywhere.

Now, the idea of trading Pitts has resurfaced — this time from The Athletic’s Mike Jones and Jeff Howe.

“Though they might not be considered sellers at the deadline, it’d be prudent to flip Pitts for an asset,” Howe wrote. “The Chiefs, meanwhile, aren’t afraid to add marquee names to their offense at any point in the season, and Pitts could be a terrific fit. He’s a move tight end like Travis Kelce, who appears to be closing in on the end of his career, so the Chiefs could prepare Pitts to be his successor. They’d still need to extend Pitts after the season, assuming the sides like the fit, but the draft compensation won’t bind them to the idea if it’s a flop.”

The proposed trade would send Pitts to Kansas City in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick. Considering Pitts has largely been viewed as a disappointment and is in the middle of his final year under contract, the deal wouldn’t be outrageous. According to NFL Draft Buzz, Atlanta currently holds just five projected picks in 2026 — with no first-round or fifth-round selections — so the compensation would fill a gap.

Kyle Pitts Likely Stays With Falcons

While the trade proposal makes sense on paper, it’s hard to see it happening unless the Falcons completely fall out of playoff contention. This is already a team short on reliable pass catchers, especially after releasing Ray-Ray McCloud.

Right now, Atlanta has a true WR1 in Drake London, but the next-best option is running back Bijan Robinson. Taking away another weapon from a developing Michael Penix Jr. in his first full season as starter would be counterproductive.

Penix and Pitts seemed to connect well in their last outing against the 49ers, with Pitts posting a season-high seven catches for 62 yards. For the year, he has 30 receptions for 285 yards and one touchdown.

If their chemistry continues to grow, the Falcons could look to re-sign Pitts this offseason. According to Spotrac, his projected market value is a four-year, $47.5 million deal — an average of $11.9 million per year.

Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker