Kyle

Pitts

That’s a one-year, $16.3 million contract for Pitts assuming he does not sign an extension off the tag. There have been worse fates. It’s fair to wonder if the Falcons will emphasize Pitts earlier in the pecking order as he carried a very high aDOT (7.2) for a player who garnered over 100 targets last season. Kevin Stefanski had Harold Fannin down at 5.9 in a screen-heavy attack in Cleveland last year. It’s possible Pitts could be a post-post-post-post-hype sleeper this season.

According to Rapoport, the plan “is to work out a long-term deal” rather than force Pitts to play on the tag. If he does play on the tag, the veteran tight end would receive a guaranteed $15 million next season. Pitts had his best season as a pro in 2025, posting career-highs in receptions (88) and receiving touchdowns (5) while also totaling 928 receiving yards. The 25-year-old playmaker struggled to live up to the lofty expectations he set as a rookie in 2021 when he went for 68-1026-1, but his breakout performance last season made him a player the new regime hopes to hang out to for the foreseeable future. Pitts and the Falcons now have until July to hammer out a new contract before playing on the tag becomes a real possibility.

Kendall notes that he believes Pitts is “likely to remain in Atlanta” either way, but that with the new executives and head coaches mostly not commenting on him, it would give everyone a year involved to see how good Pitts can be in Kevin Stefanski’s offense. The franchise tag for tight ends is not exorbitant, and Kendall notes that Pitts’ agent would likely ask for at least the tag (a little over $16.3 million) in average annual value anyway.

The resurgent 25-year-old ended up finishing 72 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard campaign since his rookie year in 2021, but still heads into the offseason with the second most yards of his career (928) by a whopping 261. Much of Pitts’ production came after Michael Penix Jr.'s injury and while Drake London was sidelined, but things had gotten to the point where it seemed as if no circumstance could again coax high-end production out of the former No. 4 overall pick. Now he has all but guaranteed a massive free agent payday if he can avoid the franchise tag from the Falcons. That is no sure thing, as the Falcons may view the one-year commitment at the relatively lightly paid position as worth it following Pitts’ career turnaround. He is set to be one of the most fascinating players of the offseason.

He was limited in practice for most of the week, but Raheem Morris said he was expected to play. Pitts is a mid-range TE1 given a dearth of options this week, but don’t expect Tampa Bay on Thursday night in Week 18 against the Saints.

Pitts sees a second-straight limited session to open the week. He’s still in line to play in Week 18 and should remain on the TE1 line, but expectations should not be “Buccaneers on Thursday Night” level high for Pitts given how often he’s appeared on the report with this injury listing the last few weeks.

The Falcons regularly limited Pitts’ practice reps as he works through a knee issue, though it has not impacted his availability on game day. The Falcons’ star tight end should be good to go as a high-end TE1 against the Saints this week. Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention.

The entire pass game was a complete afterthought as the Falcons built a 21-0 lead in the first half, with Pitts targeted on three of only 20 Kirk Cousins pass attempts. It was an unfortunate ending to a magical fantasy playoffs run for the veteran tight end, duping fantasy managers when it mattered most. Pitts is set to finish his 2025 regular season against the surging Saints in Week 18.

He actually wasn’t listed on the injury report yesterday, but given how Pitts has been playing of late this is likely just managing through a minor concern. There’s no reason to doubt his status for Week 17 and he belongs on the TE1 line against the Rams.

Pitts came to life at the end of the Falcons’ fourth drive. With less than two minutes remaining in the half, Falcons QB Kirk Cousins got him going with a screen pass for a three-yard gain. He went right back to Pitts on the following play, producing a 12-yard reception that brought the offense to the Cardinals’ 11-yard line. Two plays later, Pitts motioned into the slot after lining up out wide and took off on a shallow crossing route, just inside the end zone. He scooted straight past the Cardinals’ distracted coverage defenders and easily secured the five-yard touchdown pass from Cousins on the right side of the end zone. Per Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney, Pitts’ 395 receiving yards over the last four games are the most receiving yards over a four-game span by a tight end in franchise history. He’ll remain on the TE1 line in Week 17 against the Rams.