Kyle Pitts Moves Up Amongst Favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was the first non-quarterback selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, and his Offensive Rookie of the Year odds are finally starting to match his draft position.

Pitts has been sitting at +850 odds at WynnBET, behind Zach Wilson (+600), Trey Lance (+600) Najee Harris (+600), Justin Fields (+525), Mac Jones (+300) and Trevor Lawrence (+275) for a substantial chunk of the offseason. 

However, oddsmakers moved Pitts to +600, in a tie with Wilson, Lance and Harris before the Falcons take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 of the 2021 season. While Pitts is among the favorites for the award, he will have to make history if bettors want to cash in on his +600 odds.

Pitts seems to be in line for a major role as a rookie, as the Falcons traded away Julio Jones this offseason leaving Pitts and Calvin Ridley as the top two targets in the offense. 

A tight end has never won AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award, which makes Pitts a bit of a long shot, but he has garnered a ton of love in fantasy football circles this offseason, as BetSided’s Ben Heisler pointed out earlier this offseason.

If Pitts were to have the best season of any rookie tight end in NFL history, it certainly would put him in the conversation for the award. However, running backs and quarterbacks have dominated the Offensive Rookie of the Year honors since the 2015 season, and it’s going to be a tough task for Pitts in a class that had five quarterbacks picked in the first round. 

Atlanta and Pitts enter Week 1 as 3.5-point favorites at home against the Eagles. It will be fun to see how Matt Ryan and Pitts connect in Week 1 and could be a sign for bigger things (or not) to come this season.

Can Kyle Pitts make history this season and win OROY? Make your pick on the WynnBET app.