Kyle Pitts’ Breakout Game Forces Falcons Into a Franchise-Defining Decision
Kyle Pitts didn’t just have a big night on Thursday - he made history. With over 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns, the Falcons’ tight end became the first at his position to hit those marks in a single game since Shannon Sharpe did it back in 1996.
That’s nearly three decades of NFL football without a tight end putting up a stat line like this. It wasn’t just a great performance - it was a reminder of the elite talent Atlanta drafted back in 2021.
And now, the Falcons are staring down a critical offseason decision.
Pitts is set to hit free agency, and after a performance like that, it’s clear he’s still capable of being one of the most dynamic pass-catchers in the league - regardless of position. But with that kind of production comes leverage, and with leverage comes a price tag.
The Falcons know it. Pitts knows it.
And if Atlanta wants to keep him in the building, they may have to use the franchise tag to do it.
Franchise Tag Looms as Falcons Weigh Future With Pitts
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Falcons are strongly considering tagging Pitts if the two sides can’t come to terms on a long-term deal. From a team standpoint, it makes sense. The franchise tag offers a way to retain an elite player without committing to a multi-year contract - essentially a one-year deal worth around $15 million.
That’s a fair number for a player who, over the past month, has looked every bit like the top-five draft pick he was. Since wide receiver Drake London went down with a PCL injury, Pitts has stepped back into a starring role in the offense - and thrived. It’s the first time since his rookie year that he’s been the clear focal point of the passing game, and he’s made the most of it.
In the last four weeks alone, Pitts has surged to the top of the Falcons’ receiving charts. He now leads the team in both receptions (73) and targets (97), while sitting second in receiving yards (797) and touchdowns (4).
Those numbers put him firmly in the top five among all NFL tight ends this season - and he’s within striking distance of his first 1,000-yard season since his rookie year. With three games left and just 203 yards to go, it’s well within reach.
Pitts’ Production Is Forcing the Falcons’ Hand
When healthy and featured, Pitts is a matchup nightmare - too fast for linebackers, too big for safeties, and too skilled to be ignored. That was the vision when Atlanta took him fourth overall in 2021, and now that vision is starting to materialize again. The question is whether the Falcons are ready to commit to that future - or whether they’ll use the franchise tag as a bridge to something more permanent.
Of course, tagging Pitts doesn’t come without risks. His agent reportedly isn’t thrilled with the idea, and that’s understandable.
The tag offers no long-term security, and while Pitts has played every game over the past three seasons, he’s not far removed from a serious knee injury in 2022 that lingered longer than expected. Playing on a one-year deal after that kind of injury history is a gamble - and one Pitts may not be willing to take without a new contract in place.
If he chooses not to sign the tag, a holdout is on the table. And that could complicate things quickly for a Falcons team that hasn’t used the tag since 2019, when they ultimately extended Grady Jarrett before the deadline.
The last time a player actually played on the tag in Atlanta? That was Brent Grimes back in 2012.
Falcons Can’t Afford to Let Pitts Walk
But here’s the bottom line: Pitts has shown too much to let him walk out the door. Yes, the Falcons would get a compensatory pick in return if he signed elsewhere, but that’s a small consolation for losing a player with this kind of upside. Especially when he’s finally showing signs of becoming the offensive weapon Atlanta envisioned when they made him the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history.
The franchise tag might not be the long-term answer, but it could be the stopgap the Falcons need to buy time and keep Pitts in the fold while working toward a deal. Because if Thursday night was any indication, Kyle Pitts isn’t just back - he’s ready to be one of the best in the league again.
And the Falcons can’t afford to miss that window.