The Atlanta Falcons enter a potentially pivotal offseason after a 2025 campaign that cost head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot, with Kevin Stefanski and Ian Cunningham stepping in to lead the franchise. A major talking point is tight end Kyle Pitts, who rebounded with a strong year in 2025, posting 88 receptions for 928 yards and five touchdowns and earning second-team All-Pro honors.
NFL insider Judy Bassista recently predicted that Atlanta will place a franchise tag on Pitts to keep him in the fold for 2026. While Pitts thrived down the stretch with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, the likelihood of Cousins remaining with the Falcons next season remains uncertain, prompting questions about Pitts’s chemistry with backup options or newly installed signal-callers.
If Cousins departs, the Falcons may rely on the continued development of Pitts in a potential partnership with Penix Jr. The decision on Pitt’s status may also hinge on how the team assesses Penix Jr.’s readiness and the overall quarterback plan for 2026, including the possibility of drafting or acquiring a new starter.
Atlanta’s 2026 season is scheduled to begin in early September, with the official schedule expected to be released soon. The franchise will weigh Pitts’s value, potential contract implications of a franchise tag, and the QB landscape as it finalizes its plans for the upcoming year.
