Atlanta’s new regime isn’t interested in letting a former first-round pick walk to free agency.
The Falcons are planning to franchise tag tight end Kyle Pitts, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday, per sources.
Pitts became a Falcon in 2021 when Atlanta spent the fourth-overall pick on the Florida product, immediately placing great expectations on his shoulders as a dynamic athlete with the potential to become a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. He’s never quite reached that high bar but also has played under two different head coaches and two offensive coordinators in five seasons while running routes for an assortment of quarterbacks: Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr.
With this in mind, there was a general belief Atlanta might let Pitts test free agency in lieu of hammering out an extension with the 2021 Pro Bowler. Instead, new coach Kevin Stefanski — an individual with a history of featuring tight ends and relying on two-tight end sets — and new general manager Ian Cunningham have decided they’d rather prevent Pitts from leaving entirely by committing to paying him a projected $16.3 million for 2026 while preserving the chance to work out a multi-year deal.
Rapoport added that a long-term deal replacing the tag is indeed the Falcons’ preferred outcome, and the sides will have until July 15 to agree to one.
