I don't know D.......maybe he was generational everywhere except between the ears. I tend to believe the Falcons wanted to see this reach the highest level, but for some reason, he has come close to being what was expected.
Respectfully to those who felt it but, those evaluations were always trash.
I said it at the time, and it has simply proven out.
Pitts was a plus, plus athlete that wasn't great at any TE "things".
He wasn't a great route runner, wasn't a great blocker AT ALL, wasn't a great hands guy.
He was almost purely lusted over as a size/speed prospect that had never produced great receiving numbers.
And that's why most people miss in evaluation. --see Tyler Guyton
Pitts was 6'5"+ and 245 and ran a 4.44 which is insane but anyone with a brain knew he wasn't going to play NFL TE that skinny. --BUT THIS WAS AT A PRO DAY where speed numbers are often inflated.
And adding weight means losing at least some speed. Lose a bit and now are you really special anymore? NFL LBs run 4.5 too. 4.44 isn't blowing their doors off and getting you wide open. Especially if you aren't strong or crafty enough to knock them off you to get open.
There a reason savvy old men tend to dominate at TE.
The Falcons tried to make him the 2nd receiving option his rookie season and he had a good year, but they forced 110 receptions his way. For that they got 68 catches, 1k yards and 1 measly TD.
Since his rookie season it has gone poorly. He had averaged a mere 12.7 YPC in 3 years and badly wants out of ATL.
His insane wingspan hasn't translated to being a good red zone threat at all. In fact, he gets bullied a lot in the red zone.
He probably needs to get about 265 with added muscle to play a truer TE.