Updated Feb. 10, 2026, 2:21 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Falcons have some key players headed for free agency, but they don’t currently have enough cap space to keep everyone. Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham has some big decisions to make, including what to do with tight end Kyle Pitts.
The former top-five pick is arguably Atlanta’s top free agent, and at just 25-years old, he should have plenty of interested suitors around the NFL. Pitts is coming off the second-best season of his NFL career — 88 catches for 928 receiving yards and five touchdowns — and was one of the only pass-catchers to stay healthy for all 17 games.
The Falcons could potentially re-sign Pitts or use the franchise tag on him if they fail to reach a long-term deal, assuming Cunningham and the rest of Atlanta’s front office wants him back. So, how much money would it take to re-sign the young tight end?
A new feature from Pro Football Focus predicts Pitts will be the highest-paid tight end in the 2026 NFL free agency class. PFF projected Pitts to land a three-year, $48 million contract.
“Kyle Pitts ended the year showing flashes of the talent that made him a top-five pick in the 2021 draft,” wrote PFF’s Mason Cameron. “His 91.8 PFF receiving grade from Week 13 through the end of the regular season ranked as the third-highest mark in the NFL. Even in a small sample, that level of talent is something NFL general managers crave when shopping for a dynamic weapon to bolster an offense.”
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The Falcons may have competition for Pitts’ services, but the abundance of tight ends likely to be available in free agency should prevent the numbers from getting out of hand.
PFF highlighted Pitts’ prior relationship with Falcons president of football Matt Ryan as a potential factor in negotiations. Pitts was the team’s top weapon in 2021, which was Ryan’s final season in Atlanta.
“Considering the tight end market features a variety of quality options, including names such as David Njoku, Isaiah Likely, and Dallas Goedert, Pitts’ best opportunity to reach a high-profile contract offer may be in the hands of his old teammate and the Atlanta Falcons’ new president of football operations, Matt Ryan,” added Cameron. “Pitts generated a career-best 81.1 PFF grade while playing with Ryan, which may benefit the 25-year-old tight end’s extension talks within the Falcons’ facility.”
The Falcons currently have around $26 million in salary cap space available, according to Over The Cap’s projections. NFL free agency officially starts on March 11, with the legal tampering period opening on March 9.
