The Atlanta Falcons are set to place the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., sources told ESPN. This move intends to keep one of the NFL’s top tight ends with the team for at least the upcoming season.
By applying the franchise tag, Pitts is projected to earn approximately $16.3 million for the 2026 season. The tag salary is calculated based on the top five highest annual salaries at the tight end position, as reported by OverTheCap.com.
The Falcons and Pitts have a deadline of July 15 to negotiate a long-term contract extension. Failing an agreement, Pitts will play the entire 2026 campaign under the franchise tag terms.
The franchise and transition tag deadline falls next Tuesday, just before the start of the NFL free agency period. Teams often use this tag to retain key players while negotiating future deals.
Pitts, 25, posted impressive numbers last season, finishing second among tight ends with 88 receptions and 928 receiving yards. His five touchdown catches set a new personal best and earned him AP second-team All-Pro honors.
His 2025 season highlighted his high potential, including a historic game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that contest, Pitts recorded 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns—the first tight end to hit those marks in a single game since Shannon Sharpe in 1996.
Pitts faced challenges with injuries and inconsistent play from 2022 through 2024. Despite his promising rookie year in 2021, where he broke records by surpassing 1,000 receiving yards and earning a Pro Bowl selection, subsequent seasons saw a dip in production.
The Falcons drafted Pitts fourth overall in 2021, valuing his blend of size, speed, and playmaking ability. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 250 pounds, he was seen as a rare athletic talent capable of transforming the tight end position.
Continuity issues at quarterback also affected Pitts’ output. He has had to adapt to six different starting quarterbacks across five seasons, including Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Kirk Cousins, and Michael Penix Jr.
Matt Ryan, who quarterbacked Pitts during his record-setting rookie season, now serves as the Falcons’ president of football. Ryan oversaw the hiring of Kevin Stefanski as head coach and Ian Cunningham as general manager. Stefanski’s background as a tight ends coach aligns well with Pitts’ skill set and the Falcons’ offensive strategies.
The Falcons are betting on Pitts’ comeback trajectory under Stefanski’s tight end–friendly system. The franchise tag signals their intent to keep him central to the team’s plans while exploring a long-term commitment.
Here is a summary of the key contract-related dates and facts for Kyle Pitts and the Falcons:
1. Franchise tag salary for Pitts in 2026: approximately $16.3 million
2. Deadline for Pitts and Falcons to sign a long-term deal: July 15
3. Franchise/transition tag application deadline: next Tuesday
4. Pitts’ 2025 stats: 88 receptions, 928 yards, 5 touchdowns, AP second-team All-Pro
5. Historic game vs. Buccaneers: 11 catches, 166 yards, 3 TDs (first since 1996)
6. Six QBs thrown to Pitts in five seasons impacting consistency
Pitts’ situation illustrates the Falcons’ cautious but optimistic approach toward retaining a player with top-tier potential amid fluctuating production and team changes. The 2026 season under the franchise tag will be pivotal in determining his long-term future with Atlanta.
