Updated Feb. 16, 2026, 7:57 p.m. ET
When the Atlanta Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts No. 4 overall back in 2021, it was the highest pick ever spent on a tight end. Despite entering the league with unreasonably high expectations, Pitts lived up to the hype during his 1,000-yard rookie campaign. However, the tight end struggled to match that production over his next few seasons in Atlanta.
Pitts bounced back in 2025, recording 88 catches for 928 receiving yards and five touchdowns as the team’s leading pass-catcher. The 25-year-old is set to enter NFL free agency next month as arguably the top tight end on the market. Whether he returns to Atlanta or not, Pitts has a large payday in his future.
While the Falcons would likely prefer to have Pitts back, they have to be ready to find a replacement in free agency. With that in mind, let’s examine seven free-agent tight end options for Atlanta in 2026.
1). TE David NjokuAge: 292025 stats: 33 catches, 293 yards, 4 TDExpert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
Njoku, another former first-round pick, has spent his entire nine-year NFL career in Cleveland. The 29-year-old had his best season under Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski in 2023 when he made the Pro Bowl and recorded 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns. When healthy, Njoku is one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league, and he has improved as a blocker over the years. Plus, the former Browns tight end already knows Stefanski’s system.
2). TE Isaiah LikelyAge: 252025 stats: 27 catches, 307 yards, 1 TD
Likely has averaged over 10 yards per reception in each of his four NFL seasons. The 25-year-old’s best season was his 477-yard, six-touchdown campaign in 2024, and that was while serving as Baltimore’s No. 2 tight end behind Mark Andrews. Likely moves well for his size and his blocking ability has improved. Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski could help mold Likely into a quality No. 1 tight end.
3). TE Dallas GoedertAge: 312025 stats: 60 catches, 591 yards, 11 TD
Goedert has been one of the better tight ends in the NFL over the last eight seasons. The 31-year-old has recorded 409 career receptions for 4,676 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns since being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Last season, he posted a career-high 11 touchdowns for the Eagles. Goedert’s blocking ability and reliability as a pass-catcher would make him an ideal replacement for Pitts.
4). TE Cade OttonAge: 262025 stats: 59 catches, 572 yards, 1 TD
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end has developed nicely over the last four seasons. In 2025, Otton recorded 59 catches for 572 receiving yards. While Otton may never be Kyle Pitts, he’s a solid all-around tight end who could instantly step into the starting lineup. For his career, Otton has recorded 207 catches for 2,018 yards and 11 touchdowns.
5). TE Chigoziem OkonkwoAge: 262025 stats: 56 catches, 560 yards, 2 TD
Okonkwo might be the biggest sleeper on this list, but NFL general managers certainly aren’t sleeping on the 26-year-old after his 560-yard campaign in 2025. The Georgia native has been a solid contributor since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2022. Okonkwo has recorded 194 catches for 2,017 yards and eight touchdowns over his four NFL seasons. Plus, he’s never missed a game.
6). TE Darren WallerAge: 332025 stats: 24 catches, 283 yards, 6 TD
If the Falcons don’t want to spend big on a tight end, a veteran like Darren Waller would make sense. Waller has proven himself over his 10 seasons in the NFL. The 33-year-old is more in the mold of Pitts than some of the others on this list. Waller has two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt from his time with the Raiders. Last year, Waller posted 24 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins.
7). TE Austin HooperAge: 312025 stats: 21 catches, 263 yards, 2 TD
Could a reunion with Austin Hooper be in the cards? The Falcons drafted Hooper in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft and he spent four seasons in Atlanta — making two Pro Bowls — before going to the Cleveland Browns in 2020. Hooper spent two years playing under Stefanski in Cleveland. In 2025, Hooper appeared in 16 games for the New England Patriots. While he doesn’t have the upside of some others on this list, Hooper would be a solid depth signing with the ability to start.
