ATL Standard

It was no mystery that when the Atlanta Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts in the No. 4 slot, they were getting a rare form of talent, but the star tight end still exceeded expectations with his 2021 rookie season.

Pitts, who was heralded as one of the nation's top athletes during his time with the University of Florida Gators, tallied 69 catches for 1,026 yards and was named to the Pro Bowl. He told the Falcons' team website that he has personal goals, with most of them being team-based. He also said he ignores chatter on social media platforms.

"My focus is living in the present and keeping my feet on the ground," Pitts said. "I don't worry about the statistics or records people thought I would have."

Pitts just barely missed breaking the rookie tight end receiving yard record held by Mike Ditka, the Falcons reported. Still, Pitts broke the rookie receiving yard record held by All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones.

Pitts does have some holes in his game still, and he has admitted that throughout the season, the Falcons reported. He struggled to find the end zone with only one score in the year and knows that he needs to read coverages better. However, as the season wore on, it was clear that Pitts was locked in with quarterback Matt Ryan.

With a rookie years like Pitts', it appears the sky is the limit for the young tight end.