The Atlanta Falcons have undergone quite a few changes this offseason. While the team has decided to move on from several key players, one guy they aren’t ready to part ways with just yet is tight end Kyle Pitts, as the team placed the franchise tag on him ahead of free agency to prevent him from hitting the open market.
Atlanta’s decision to franchise-tag Pitts was made with the expectation that it would eventually sign him to a long-term contract extension. The two sides have until July 15 to get a new deal done, but in the meantime, Pitts made a big decision on the Falcons’ franchise tag, which is a one-year contract valued at $15.045 million, that will catch fans’ attention.
Kyle Pitts Signs $15 Million Franchise Tag
Pitts is one of the more polarizing players in the NFL currently. Selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Pitts entered the league with some serious expectations. And while he’s been solid during his first five seasons, for one reason or another, it feels like he has never managed to reach his full potential.
In 2025, Pitts turned in arguably the best season of his career, despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play throughout the year. In 17 games, Pitts racked up career highs in receptions (88) and touchdowns (5) while also posting 928 receiving yards. When all was said and done, Pitts earned a spot on the All-Pro Second Team.
There was speculation that suggested Pitts could depart in free agency, but the Falcons shut that down when they placed the franchise tag on their talented offensive playmaker. As a result, the two sides are working towards a new contract, but for the time being, Pitts has decided to sign the franchise tag, which will allow him to show up for the start of the team’s offseason program on Tuesday.
“Falcons TE Kyle Pitts, who was franchise tagged, is signing his tag and showing up for workouts,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X. “The two sides can still negotiate a long-term deal, but he locks in his $15.045M fully guaranteed. The deadline for players on the franchise tag is July 15, and the new Falcons regime has plenty of time to get to know Kyle Pitts and potentially work out a deal. In the meantime, Pitts secures his payday.”
Falcons Still Have Work to Do with Kyle Pitts’ Contract Situation
GettyAtlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts.
This move by Pitts won’t prevent the Falcons from continuing to work towards signing him to a long-term contract extension, but it does protect him in the event the two sides can’t work something out. Pitts wants to show that he is committed to the team moving forward, which is why he’s making an effort to attend its offseason program.
Hammering out these long-term contracts is always easier said than done, but Atlanta’s new-look front office wants to keep Pitts around, and based on this move, it seems like he wants to stay in town for years to come. There’s still more work to be done here, but Pitts has taken a big step towards securing his future one way or another.
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