Falcons' Pitts on Prove-It Deal, Nineteen Million Future

0:00Welcome to NFL News today. Two minutes of updates that matter to NFL fans, hit subscribe and stay connected. The Atlanta Falcons made the first move of the offseason by placing the franchise tag on Titan Kyle Pitts. This locks him in for one year at $15,000,000,000 and gives them priority in any long-term deal talks. The two sides have until July to work out an extension or he'll play under that tag in 2026. Pitts showed huge promise as a rookie in 2021, but a knee injury in 2022 slowed him down big time. He struggled with low production in 2023 and 2024, barely topping 600 yards each year. Then in 2025, he broke out with 88 catches for 928 yards and 5 touchdowns. Fans and analysts are split on whether that breakout is for real. A lot of his yards came after teammate Drake London got hurt, boosting Pitts' numbers in the final stretch.

1:00Still, the Falcons picked up his fifth year option last year and now with new head coach Kevin Stofanski who loves tight ends, they want more proof. The tag is basically a proof at deal for Pitts. It lets the team see if he can be a star with the new staff without committing long-term. If he repeats that 2025 season, his next contract could jump toward 19 million a year, making him one of the top-paid at his position. This year is huge for both sides. The Falcons need Pitts to prove he's indispensable, not just solid. Whatever happens, it shapes their future plans at tight end. This story is shared with support from our sponsor. It is a pillow that plays your podcast and music without earbuds. Built for listening in bed, S-O-L-I-S-O-L-Pillow.com