There’s a lot of new to discuss with the Atlanta Falcons heading into the 2026 season. With a new regime in place, just about anything feels possible.
New will be the ongoing theme for the Falcons in 2026, with changes across the board — from the front office to the coaching staff and even new jerseys.
So far, Falcons fans have gotten a glimpse of what this leadership group could look like through free agency, but that’s only a small sample size. The next real indicator will come during the 2026 NFL Draft in late April.
But don’t be surprised if new general manager Ian Cunningham makes some sort of roster shakeup before then — potentially involving one of the team’s biggest names, like tight end Kyle Pitts.
Ian Cunningham’s Comments Leave Door Open on Kyle Pitts’ Falcons Future
Cunningham, along with Kevin Stefanski and the Falcons’ leadership group, spoke at this week’s NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix. While several topics were addressed, Cunningham’s comments about Pitts stood out when asked about the possibility of trading the former first-round pick.
“It’s my job as the general manager to do what’s best for the organization,” Cunningham said, per The Athletic’s Josh Kendall. “Kyle is a great player. We’ve seen his skill set. Also, it’s my job to listen. We’re excited to have Kyle. We’re excited for his future.”
Cunningham’s response was vague, but the phrase “it’s my job to listen” is what sticks. That could be general manager speak — or it could be a subtle acknowledgment that calls about Pitts are being taken seriously.
Pitts has been a consistent name in trade rumors over the last couple of seasons, and nothing in Cunningham’s answer shuts that down.
The Falcons also took an interesting approach with Pitts this offseason. Instead of working out a long-term deal, they placed the franchise tag on him, setting his salary at $15 million for the 2026 season.
He’s coming off a year where he nearly reached 1,000 receiving yards again while also posting a career-high five touchdowns.
Falcons Could Still Explore Trade Despite Franchise Tag
After being selected No. 4 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Pitts has yet to fully live up to expectations. That’s a big reason why his name keeps popping up in trade discussions.
His inconsistency has forced the Falcons into a difficult position. After arguably his best season last year, they had to decide whether to commit long-term or take a wait-and-see approach.
They chose the latter.
But as CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones pointed out, the franchise tag doesn’t guarantee anything.
“New Falcons GM Ian Cunningham said last week that 2026 will be ‘the last year we ever have five picks’ in the upcoming draft. One way to get picks is to deal current players,” Jones wrote.
“While the Falcons would never trade standout running back Bijan Robinson, and while an extension for wideout Drake London is sure to materialize in the coming months, teams could inquire on franchise-tagged tight end Kyle Pitts,” Jones continued. “His $15 million tag is a reasonable number off which to work a deal.”
That’s where things get interesting.
The Falcons don’t currently have a large number of draft picks, and Cunningham has already hinted at wanting to change that.
While it’s unlikely a Pitts trade would bring back a first-round pick, adding Day 2 or Day 3 capital could still be appealing for a team trying to reshape its roster.
Atlanta’s approach leading up to the draft will be something to watch closely. Because even with Pitts under the franchise tag, nothing about his future feels locked in.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
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