Kyle Pitts: Everything you need to know

Pitts signed his franchise tender with the Falcons for the 2026 season Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Pitts thus is locked in for the coming campaign at a salary of $15.045 million. After posting 1,026 receiving yards as a rookie first-round pick in 2021, he has fallen short of 1,000 yards in each of his subsequent four seasons, but he bounced back last year with an 88-928-5 line on 118 targets in 17 regular-season games. Pitts' potential signal-callers for 2026 are Michael Penix (knee) and newcomer Tua Tagovailoa, who will be competing for the starting job during the offseason program through the preseason.

Pitts is present for the start of voluntary workouts Tuesday and is signing his franchise tag with the Falcons, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Pitts and Atlanta will still have until mid-July to negotiate a potential long-term deal, but the 2021 first-round pick will now officially sign his one-year, fully-guaranteed $15.05 million franchise tag. The 25-year-old TE managed a surge of production down the stretch of the 2025 campaign, finishing the year with an 88-928-5 line on 118 targets while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. Pitts' major task this offseason will be to improve his chemistry with quarterback Michael Penix (ACL) and establish a rapport with new QB Tua Tagovailoa.

The Falcons officially placed their franchise tag on Pitts on Tuesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports. The expected move prevents Pitts from reaching the open market in free agency, while he and the Falcons have until July 15 to negotiate a potential multi-year extension. Per McElhaney, the projected franchise tag value for tight ends in 2026 will be approximately $16 million. The 2021 first-rounder is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he recorded 88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns (on 118 targets) in 17 games.