The New Orleans Saints’ defensive kryptonite has been tight ends in 2026. Unfortunately for them, they face the uber-talented Kyle Pitts in their week four matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite Pitts’ limited production, he’s an ever-present threat for the Saints’ injury-riddled defense.
The Saints couldn’t contain Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer in their week three loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The tandem two had 13 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns. This is the most notable example of Brandon Staley’s unit struggling against tight ends, but they also surrendered 12 receptions for 102 yards through their first two weeks.
Beyond this, the Saints’ defense is thin, particularly at linebacker. Veteran Kaden Elliss is out, and Pete Werner is questionable heading into Monday. This is a huge hit, as they're frequently tasked with guarding tight ends in coverage.
Kyle Pitts is a sleeping giant that the Saints can’t let awake.
Thus far, Pitts has disappointed with only two receptions for 20 yards. Obviously, most of this is on him; however, the Falcons offense has been dysfunctional, outside of week three, and hasn’t given him many opportunities. Now, they are far more dangerous with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback, and Pitts could begin seeing more usage.
Pitts is coming off a stellar season with 88 receptions for 928 yards and five touchdowns. The former fourth-overall pick surpassed 55 receiving yards in five of the last six games. He was outstanding during this stretch and established himself as a focal point in Atlanta’s offense.
Pitt's superhuman athleticism makes him a dangerous pass catcher if frequently called upon. The six-foot-six, 250-pound player uses his size to overwhelm smaller players at the catch point and his surprising athleticism to outpace linebackers. With this, he will always be a playmaker, even if the stats indicate otherwise.
Another aspect that makes Pitts dangerous is that he’s not the primary weapon. The Saints won’t commit multiple defenders to him, likely placing them on Bijan Robinson or Drake London. This will give the veteran more advantageous one-on-one opportunities.
This, paired with the aforementioned injuries on the Saints’ defense, makes Pitts a major threat. Brandon Staley must find a suitable matchup, whether it’s Jonas Sanker at the STAR position, a safety, or a linebacker. They can’t let Pitts run wild and single-handedly open up the Falcons’ offense.
Kyle Pitts vs. the Saints defense won’t garner much talk heading into week four, but it will undoubtedly play a major role in the outcome. Even without production, he’s still a dangerous threat. Brandon Staley must find a way to limit him, even with an injured defense.
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