Kyle Pitts Biggest Winner in Julio Jones Trade

Julio Jones got his wish. The Atlanta Falcons acquiesced to his trade demand and shipped him to the Tennessee Titans for a few picks and much-needed salary cap relief. But while ATL may be mourning the departure of one of the greatest players in franchise history, they can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the Falcons already have Jones' replacement on the roster.

No one benefits more from the Jones trade than rookie tight end Kyle Pitts. Previously the No. 3 option in the Falcons offense, Pitts immediately ascends to the No. 2 option behind Calvin Ridley. That means a massive increase in targets and a bigger role in the offense. That also means he has a better chance to win Rookie of the Year.

Before the trade, Pitts' odds to win Offensive ROY stood at +1000 (bet $100 to win $1,000). Now they're +850. Clearly Vegas sees the same thing we're seeing and moved the odds appropriately. Pitts gets a big boost from this trade.

Jones commanded an average of 161.6 targets per season from 2014-2019 when he was healthy. Those 10+ targets per game now open up and we can safely assume Pitts will gobble up the lion's share of them. No offense to Russell Gage, Tajae Sharpe and the Falcons other wide receivers, but Pitts is more skilled and more important to the Falcons.

Beyond the fact that the Falcons used the No. 4 overall pick on Pitts this year, Pitts' versatility makes him a matchup nightmare for opponents. In eight games with Florida last year, Pitts lined up wide on 18 plays, which is more than any tight end in the NFL in 2020. The Falcons will likely deploy him in a similar manner, lining Pitts up wide, in the slot and with his hand in the dirt. A 6-foot-6, 245 pounds and with a 4.4 40-yard time, it doesn't matter whether the opposing defense puts a defensive back or linebacker on Pitts. Pitts will have an advantage.

Ridley will also see an uptick in targets, but he'll also see an uptick in attention paid to him too. Pitts will also likely be a key the defense focuses on. But his combination of size, speed and skill make him a matchup nightmare for opponents and the Falcons have to try and take advantage of that. They would have done so if Jones played for them in 2021 or not. With Jones gone, Pitts gets extra targets and extra plays designed for him. That's a big win for him even as the Falcons lose one of the best to ever do it.