Jaguars urged to trade for underused game-changer to bolster perceived need

The Jacksonville Jaguars cut ties with Evan Engram in the offseason but didn't make an effort to bolster their tight end room because they already had Brenton Strange in place. Granted, they did sign Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt in free agency (and later Quintin Morris after the draft), but it's clear that the Jags expect Strange to be TE1 in 2025.

This is understandable when you take into account that the former Penn State Nittany Lion was a non-factor as a rookie but showed he was ready to step into a featured role when he filled in for Engram last year, registering 40 receptions for 411 yards with two touchdowns. After 2024, he's been honing different parts of his game, putting an emphasis on becoming a better blocker.

But despite the fact that Strange's stock is at an all-time high, and he's poised to have a breakout season, Fox Sports believes the Jacksonville tight end room could still use reinforcements.

Fox Sports drew up a list of potential destinations for Pitts and named the Jaguars, noting that the Atlanta Falcons tight end would round out Trevor Lawrence's arsenal of weapons.

"Pitts would immediately be a featured element of Coen's offense and potentially give the Jaguars a dynamic offensive attack around Lawrence with the former Gators tight end, Hunter, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.—a Pro Bowler in his 2024 rookie season—and the running back-duo of Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby," the Fox Sports staff stated.

Later, Fox Sports argues that Pitt's pass-catching skills would make him a logical replacement for Engram, adding that Jacksonville has the draft assets to trade for him.

"Jacksonville could acquire Pitts and still have at least a pair of Day 2 picks next year. Pitts replaces Engram as an athletic option at tight end for the Jaguars, and he can be Lawrence's go-to when he has to get rid of the ball in a jiff."

Even though the Jaguars don't have a first-round pick in 2026, they have three selections in Round 3 after acquiring two from the Detroit Lions in this year's draft. Fox Sports suggests they use one of them to trade for Pitts.

A first-round pick in the 2021 draft, the former Florida Gator got off to a strong start to his NFL career. reeling in 68 receptions for 1,026 yards with one touchdown as a rookie. However, he hasn't been nearly as productive the past three years, tallying a combined 128 catches for 1,625 yards with nine touchdowns. His underwhelming performance has made him the subject of trade chatter ahead of the regular season.

Why Kyle Pitts probably isn't a fit for the Jaguars

General manager James Gladstone has shown that he's not afraid to swing from the fences, having traded up to select Travis Hunter and making a series of moves in the NFL Draft. Having said that, it's hard to see him making a run for Kyle Pitts because he doesn't fit the team's vision.

The Jacksonville Jaguars want their tight ends to block and saying that Pitts struggles in that area is a massive understatement. In fact, they cut ties with Evan Engram because, as good a pass catcher as he was, he was underwhelming as a blocker.

Maybe if the Jags intended to deploy Pitts as a receiver, his odds of landing in Duval would increase. However, they already have Brenton Strange in the fold, and he figures to be the third or fourth option in the passing game. Pitts would have a similar or even lower target share, which is why he probably won't be on Jacksonville's radar.

The bottom line is that Kyle Pitts is still an intriguing player with untapped potential despite the fact that he's underachieved in recent years. However, the Jaguars don't have a use for him, and trading for him would be a luxury they don't need.

Here are other Jaguars stories you may also like: