Team owner and president Arthur Blank cleaned up at the end of the year and hired a new head coach, general manager and president of football. Next, the Falcons must decide what to do with key free agents, including tight end Kyle Pitts.
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The former No. 4 overall pick is set to enter free agency after arguably the best season of his NFL career. The Falcons could use the franchise tag on Pitts if they don’t want to commit to giving him a long-term contract, or they could let him walk entirely.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra published a new article analyzing the most overrated and underrated players in the 2026 free agency class. Pitts was among the most overrated NFL free agents:
If the Falcons don’t franchise tag Pitts (estimated at $16 million), the tight end will hit the market as the top playmaker at the position. The question is, which Kyle Pitts will a team sign? Is he the player who generated 469 yards and four touchdowns on 39 receptions over the final six games of 2025? Or is he the inconsistent, drop-prone player who had 459 yards and a touchdown on 49 receptions through the first 11 games of the season? In the right system, one that uses him as a matchup target and asks him to block less, he could finally find the consistent edge that eluded him during his first five seasons. In the wrong offense, a team could regret spending too much on the former No. 4 overall pick. –Kevin Patra, NFL.com
Pitts’ up-and-down production over his five years in Atlanta may scare off some potential suitors, but the tight end has performed well when the quarterback’s play has been up to par. During Pitts’ rookie season, when Matt Ryan was still the quarterback, Pitts was one of the best tight ends in the league.
He struggled when Marcus Mariota took over in 2022 before injuring his MCL midseason. Things didn’t improve much when Desmond Ridder intervened the following year. Pitts appeared to forge a connection with Michael Penix Jr. later in the 2024 season, and that carried over into 2025.
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However, there is undoubtedly some risk in paying a player who performed well in a contract year. And while the Falcons should be aware of this, Pitts was the team’s leading receiver last season. Losing him would make things more difficult for Drake London, Bijan Robinson and the rest of the Atlanta offense.
Pitts is only 25 years old and entering his physical prime. Letting him walk for nothing in free agency could hurt Atlanta. We’ll see what general manager Ian Cunningham has up his sleeve when free agency begins on March 11.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons TE Kyle Pitts Ranked Among NFL’s Most Overrated Free Agents