NFL Free Agency: Falcons to place franchise tag on TE Kyle Pitts

Ian Rapoport reports that the Falcons are planning to franchise tag TE Kyle Pitts on a 1-year, fully guaranteed deal worth more than $15M

One of the big free agent dominoes just dropped, as Ian Rapoport reports that the Falcons are planning to franchise tag star tight end Kyle Pitts on a 1-year, fully guaranteed deal worth more than $15 million. Pitts was among the top names in a group of free agent pass catchers that included Dallas Goedert, Isaiah Likely, David Njoku, and the legendary Travis Kelce.

NFL teams are permitted to contact free agents at noon ET on March 9, and the Falcons will now ensure that Pitts is on the roster in 2026, with both parties working towards a long-term deal. A tight end who can dominate matchups like a wide receiver (88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns), Pitts only needs to improve as a run blocker to earn elite status.

The Falcons will now look to rebuild under Kevin Stefanski, who was hired to replace Raheem Morris as head coach. Stefanski is well-liked and well-regarded around the NFL and has had success with quality quarterbacks, and is a two-time coach of the year who led the Browns to the playoffs twice in six years in Cleveland, a team that hadn’t made the playoffs since 2002 before his arrival.

Stefanski went 8-26 over the past two seasons in Cleveland, but will now have Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback, Drake London at wide receiver, Pitts (free agent), and the prize of the group, running back Bijan Robinson.