The Atlanta Falcons have been aggressive in locking up their star players throughout the offseason. They have already reached a long-term extension with Drake London, but questions surrounded what the future for tight end Kyle Pitts would look like. He was already under contract through the franchise tag for the 2026 NFL season, but it appears that things may have changed regarding his future. Let’s take a closer look at what the most recent update is and what it means for the Atlanta Falcons going forward.
The Atlanta Falcons sign Kyle Pitts to a massive 3-year extension
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (8) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to an extension with tight end Kyle Pitts. The deal is for three years and is worth $54 million ($36 million guaranteed). This is the largest three-year contract for a tight end in NFL history. The Atlanta Falcons have now locked up two-thirds of their skill position core, already extending wide receiver Drake London earlier this offseason.
This contract places Kyle Pitts in third place for on a per year average. Below is the top five currently for the tight end position:
George Kittle: $19.1 million
Trey McBride: $19 million
Kyle Pitts: $18 million
Isaiah Likely: $13.333 million
Mark Andrews: $13.089 million
The Atlanta Falcons have an exciting offense that needs to show some improvement for the 2026 NFL season. With Drake London, Jahan Dotson, and Olamide Zaccheaus expected to be the starting wide receivers, the team is going to be in a great situation in the passing game. With Pitts being one of the top tight ends in the National Football League, this offense has a chance to step up even more in 2026. This also avoids any unnecessary headaches regarding the conversations throughout the preseason and the regular season about Pitts’ future.
This is exactly what the franchise tag is made for, as the two sides can continue to hammer out a long-term extension. Now, the sights are on running back Bijan Robinson to lock up this core. Kyle Pitts had a strong season for the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 as he recorded 88 receptions on 118 targets for 928 yards (10.5 yards per catch) with five receiving touchdowns. It will be intriguing to see how the Falcons are able to navigate the remainder of the offseason with either quarterback Michael Penix Jr or Tua Tagovailoa throwing Pitts the football.