The off-field Kirk Cousins-Kyle Pitts connection was apparently in the works before the veteran quarterback agreed to terms on a monster $180 million contract with the Falcons on Monday.
When enjoying a trip to Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Cousins — who spent the past six seasons in Minnesota with the Vikings — received messages from a number belonging to the Atlanta tight end, one that read: “We’re ready for you to take us to the promised land,” according to the Falcons’ official website.
“It’s always fun to be to wanted and so I appreciated that, and he did a great job kind of leading the charge,” Cousins, 35, said Wednesday at his introductory press conference, noting Pitts’ recruiting originated “back a few weeks.”
Cousins, who originally met Pitts, 23, at the 2022 Pro Bowl, is excited about a fresh start in Atlanta, which prioritized the quarterback position entering free agency.
A four-time Pro Bowler, Cousins — coming off an Achilles injury in October 2023 — is eager to work with Pitts and fellow Atlanta playmakers Bijan Robinson and Drake London.
But first, there is the matter of deciding who will wear No. 8 for the Falcons when the 2024 season begins.
“He actually texted me about it,” said Cousins, who has worn No. 8 since high school. “So I said, ‘If there’s a number you want to pivot from, great, you let me know.'”
When Cousins said he would write a check or make a donation, Pitts told his new quarterback, “I just want targets every game.”
The fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Pitts surpassed 1,026 yards in his rookie season but missed time in 2022 due to a torn MCL.
Though he played in 17 games in 2023, he had 53 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns as the Falcons were held back by middling quarterback play from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.
The buzz around Cousins-to-Atlanta has been building for some time.
Before the start of free agency, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that Cousins and Pitts had been in touch over who would wear No. 8.
Pitts responded to the chatter earlier this month on X, posting, “This is actually funny… you guys come up with anything.”
As the Cousins-Pitts chemistry is building, exchanges could potentially lead to questions if tampering has occurred.
As Florio noted Wednesday, “While it’s not tampering if Pitts was simply doing it on his own, it becomes tampering if he did it with the knowledge of or at the behest of the team.”
