Feb. 23, 2026, 7:46 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Falcons are not ready to part ways with starting tight end Kyle Pitts just yet.
Among rampant speculation regarding the future of the former first-round NFL Draft selection, the news broke on Monday that the Falcons plan to use the franchise tag to retain Pitts for at least one more season. He has spent his entire five-season career with Atlanta and was set to hit free agency this offseason as his rookie contract expires.
The franchise tag is calculated based upon the top five annual salaries at each position, and this coming season, the salary for tight ends placed under the tag would be $16,319,000. The Falcons will have until July 15 to sign Pitts to a long-term contract, or he will play next season under the franchise tender. The deadline for teams to use their franchise tag is Tuesday, March 3, with free agency beginning the week after.
Pitts had his best season since his rookie year in 2025, finishing second in the NFL for receptions by a tight end (88) and receiving yards by a tight end (928). He also notched a career-best five receiving touchdowns, and his 928 receiving yards are his second-highest season total since 2021. He was named a second-team All-Pro.
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