The Atlanta Falcons are heading into a pivotal offseason, and there’s no shortage of intrigue surrounding their next moves. With Kevin Stefanski now officially installed as the new head coach, the franchise has its leadership in place. But big decisions loom-none more pressing than what to do about tight end Kyle Pitts.
Pitts, the former fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, came into the league with sky-high expectations after a dominant college career at Florida. As a rookie, he looked every bit the part, topping 1,000 receiving yards and flashing the kind of athleticism that made him a matchup nightmare. But since that breakout debut, things haven’t quite followed the expected trajectory.
Injuries and inconsistent quarterback play have played a role, but Pitts hasn’t hit the 1,000-yard mark again. That said, his 2025 campaign showed signs of life-928 receiving yards and a career-high five touchdowns.
He looked more comfortable, more involved, and more like the player Atlanta thought it was getting when it drafted him. Still, his long-term future with the Falcons is anything but certain.
When Stefanski was asked about Pitts during his introductory press conference, his response was measured-and maybe a little telling. “Kyle is somebody that we'll talk at length more about when it comes to those types of roster conversations,” Stefanski said. “But the position itself is something that we feel very strongly about.”
It’s a coach-speak answer, sure, but it didn’t exactly sound like someone pounding the table to keep Pitts in Atlanta. And with free agency around the corner, the clock is ticking.
The Falcons have a few options. They could let Pitts test the open market, but the tight end pool in this year’s free agency class is thin.
If they want to keep some continuity at the position-and avoid spending another high draft pick-they could opt to bring him back. The most straightforward way to do that would be to use the franchise tag, which would cost around $15 million for one year.
That’s a hefty price, but it buys time. Time to evaluate how Pitts fits into Stefanski’s offense, time to see if he can get back to elite form, and time to decide whether he’s a long-term piece or a trade chip.
Make no mistake: the Falcons still believe in the tight end position. Stefanski’s offenses in Cleveland leaned heavily on tight ends, both in the passing game and as blockers in the run game.
That could work in Pitts’ favor-if Stefanski sees a fit. But if the new regime doesn’t view Pitts as the right kind of tight end for their system, Atlanta could be ready to move on.
For now, the situation remains fluid. Pitts is still one of the most physically gifted players at his position, and at just 25 years old, there’s reason to believe his best football could still be ahead of him. But whether that future unfolds in Atlanta is far from guaranteed.
Falcons fans will want to keep a close eye on this one. The team invested a top-five pick in Pitts, and while the flashes have been there, the consistency hasn’t. With a new head coach, a new direction, and a critical offseason ahead, the Falcons have some tough calls to make-and what they decide to do with Kyle Pitts could say a lot about where this franchise is headed.