Ian Cunningham hasn’t been in the Falcons’ GM chair long, but he’s already making it clear: Atlanta is heading in a new direction - one that leans heavily on drafting, developing, and retaining talent. That’s a shift Falcons fans haven’t seen in a while, and frankly, it's a welcome one.
Cunningham, 40, made a strong first impression during his introductory press conference. He laid out a vision that contrasts sharply with the previous regime.
Where Terry Fontenot was aggressive - sometimes recklessly so - with draft capital, Cunningham is taking a more measured approach. The goal?
Build a sustainable contender by investing in young talent and keeping core players in-house.
That mindset could be especially good news for Kyle Pitts, who’s approaching a critical point in his career. The star tight end is set to hit free agency early next month, and while there’s been some debate about whether he’s worth a big-money extension, Cunningham doesn’t sound like a GM ready to let a game-changer walk out the door.
The expectation is that Pitts will receive the franchise tag - a move that buys the front office time to work out a long-term deal. And let’s be honest: if Pitts hit the open market, there’d be no shortage of suitors.
The Falcons know that. They also know what they have.
After a frustrating 2024, Pitts bounced back in 2025 with 88 catches and 928 yards - his best season since his 1,000-yard rookie campaign. He became a bigger part of the offense as the year went on, and with Kevin Stefanski now running a tight end-friendly system, the fit couldn’t be better.
But Pitts isn’t the only young star on Atlanta’s radar. Cunningham’s “draft, develop, retain” mantra could have major implications for Drake London and Bijan Robinson as well - two top-10 picks who’ve flashed elite potential and are now eligible for extensions.
London is the team’s WR1 and Michael Penix Jr.’s go-to target. He’s expected to command around $30 million per year on his next deal.
That number could’ve been even higher if not for an injury-plagued 2025 season, which may slightly soften his market value. Still, the Falcons can’t afford to play the waiting game too long.
London’s a foundational piece, and letting him inch closer to free agency would be a dangerous move.
Bijan Robinson presents a different kind of challenge. Running backs don’t typically get paid like wide receivers or tight ends - the shelf life is shorter, and the market is tougher.
But Robinson isn’t your average back. Alongside Jahmyr Gibbs, he’s part of a new wave of dual-threat runners who can change games on the ground and through the air.
If the Falcons want to keep him long-term, they’ll need to be proactive. Waiting too long could mean paying a premium or, worse, losing a player who’s capable of reshaping the offense.
It’s worth noting that all three of these players - Pitts, London, and Robinson - were top-10 picks under the previous front office. That’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy, and now it’s Cunningham’s job to make sure the investment pays off.
He’s inherited the talent. Now comes the hard part: keeping it together and building around it.
With Matt Ryan now part of the front office and Stefanski bringing a new offensive identity, the Falcons have a chance to reset the franchise’s trajectory. But that only works if they lock in their core pieces.
Cunningham has talked the talk. Now it’s time to back it up - with smart contracts, strategic planning, and a commitment to building from within.