Kyle Pitts reads the franchise tag as a vote of confidence: 'They trust you'
After the Drake London extension, the Falcons tagged Pitts for $15 million rather than letting him walk. Coming off a career year, Pitts frames it as a sixth-year option, not a snub.
When we covered Drake London's $141 million extension, we noted Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson were next on Atlanta's bill. The Falcons handled Pitts with the franchise tag, a one-year, $15.045 million number, and the tight end isn't reading it as a slight. 'They just trust you, that we see something in you, and it's pretty cool to see.'
What's the tag situation?
The Falcons franchise-tagged Pitts after his rookie deal expired, locking him in for 2026 at $15.045 million while both sides evaluate a long-term fit. Pitts chose to frame it positively, calling it a 'sixth-year option' rather than a failure to reach an extension. It buys Atlanta a year to see how he fits the new staff's offense before committing top-of-market tight end money, the same prove-it logic teams apply across the league.
Did he earn a bigger deal?
He had the best season of his career. Pitts finished second among NFL tight ends with 88 receptions and 928 receiving yards, plus five touchdowns. The signature game came in December: 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns, making him the first tight end with that line since Shannon Sharpe in 1996. After years of being labeled an unfulfilled top-five pick, the 2025 production was the breakout the Falcons drafted him for.
How does he fit the new staff?
He's adapting, and the staff likes what it sees. Head coach Kevin Stefanski praised Pitts' adaptability, saying he's been impressed with how Pitts is taking to both the existing asks and 'a couple new things for him.' Pitts is developing new routes and an expanded role in Stefanski's system. For a 25-year-old tight end with rare physical tools, a scheme that uses him creatively is exactly what was missing in earlier seasons.
What does Pitts want?
To win, plainly. 'I just want to win,' he said. The Falcons haven't made the playoffs since 2017, the longest active drought in the NFC South, and Pitts has spent his entire career on teams that fell short. The franchise tag keeps him in Atlanta for the year, and a strong 2026 alongside London and Robinson in a functional offense could turn the tag into the long-term deal that didn't get done this spring.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Falcons TE Kyle Pitts - Franchise tag shows new staff trusts me
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