Falcons rookies A.J. Terrell and Kyle Pitts want to make an impression as the team heads into training camp.
Falcons rookies A.J. Terrell and Kyle Pitts want to make an impression as the team heads into training camp. The Atlanta Falcons’ two brightest young stars right now are A.J. Terrell and Kyle Pitts. The former first-round picks have lived up to their high rankings so far, and they are definitely crucial parts of the team’s long-term plans. It looks like they all know and understand what they can do to help each other improve not only the team’s chances but also their own skills.
At Atlanta’s minicamp earlier this summer, the competition between Terrell and Pitts was a big story. Terrell was last year’s second-best cornerback according to Pro Football Focus, and Pitts, along with Mike Ditka, was the only rookie tight end to get over 1,000 yards.
More about these players
Terrell got to practice against players like Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Russell Gage when he first started out. That experience helped Terrell become one of the best cornerbacks in the league, and it can also help players like Pitts and Drake London, the team’s most recent first-round pick at wide receiver, rise to the top. This is one of the best ways for young players to improve early in their careers. The constant repetition against other players at the top of their games but who haven’t yet put more emphasis on getting enough rest for the long season ahead. Pitts and Terrell are still eager to show what they can do and make a name for themselves in this league. This is true both in practice and in games.
In his second season, Terrell broke out in the most significant way possible. He had one of the best cornerback seasons Atlanta has ever seen. Pitts can build on an excellent first year and become a top-tier player at his position. He has been working hard this offseason to make that happen. Pitts is still learning from some of the best tight ends. In addition to this, Pitts is also putting a lot of priority on the cognitive aspects of his game.
In terms of expectations for the 2022 season, Atlanta is kind of in the middle. From the outside, people think this team has a better chance of getting the first pick in the draft than of making the playoffs. But the Falcons won seven games last year, which surprised some people.
Coming up in 2023
With more financial freedom coming in the offseason of 2023, there seems to be a greener side to the grass. Players like Pitts and Terrell, who have already made a name for themselves in this league, will determine how green that field really is. If their level of competition at practice is impressive, the Falcons might also be able to get ahead of schedule.