Pitts' Record Extension
Falcons Secure Kyle Pitts with Historic $54 Million Extension, Solidifying Offensive Core
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Key Points
1
Pitts' average annual value ranks him as the third-highest-paid tight end in the NFL, behind George Kittle and Trey McBride.
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The Falcons had previously used the franchise tag on Pitts, guaranteeing $15 million for 2026 via a one-year tender signed on April 7, with a July 15 window to negotiate a long-term deal.
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The Falcons’ 2025 quarterback situation featured Michael Penix Jr. starting before a season-ending ACL injury, with Kirk Cousins finishing the year as starter and later being released, and Tua Tagovailoa signed as the backup.
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Drake London also signed a four-year contract with Atlanta, with the deal value undisclosed in public reports.
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Bijan Robinson remains a candidate for a new deal after the Falcons exercised his fifth-year option, keeping him in the long-term plans alongside Pitts and London.
Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons agreed to a three-year, $54 million extension on June 23, ending negotiations well ahead of the July 15 deadline, according to USA Today. The deal includes $36 million fully guaranteed — the largest three-year contract ever signed by a tight end in NFL history.
At $18 million per year, Pitts becomes the third-highest-paid tight end in the league, behind George Kittle ($19.1M AAV) and Trey McBride ($19M AAV), CBS Sports reported. The signing locks Pitts into Atlanta's core alongside wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson.
A Record Deal Built on a Bounce-Back Season
Pitts earned this contract the hard way. After averaging just 511 yards per season from 2022 to 2023, he exploded in 2025 with 88 receptions, 928 yards, and five touchdowns — a career-best snap rate of 84%, according to Yahoo Sports. That performance earned him his first All-Pro selection and reset his market value entirely.
The Falcons had already used the franchise tag on Pitts on April 7, guaranteeing him $15 million for the 2026 season. By converting that tag into a long-term extension, Atlanta locked him up for 2026 and beyond. General Manager Ian Cunningham said the deal reflects the team's core philosophy: "drafting, developing, and retaining our own."
Falcons Spend Big to Build an Elite Offensive Core
The Pitts deal is the second major extension Atlanta has handed out this month. On June 2, the Falcons signed wide receiver Drake London to a four-year, $141 million contract, making him the third-highest-paid receiver in the NFL, according to CBS Sports. Together, Pitts and London account for roughly $53 million in annual cap commitments — just for two pass catchers.
Running back Bijan Robinson is next in line. The Falcons exercised his fifth-year option, but a long-term extension remains unsigned. With Pitts and London secured through 2029 and 2030 respectively, Robinson's deal could push the team's "Big Three" offensive costs to nearly 35% of the salary cap by 2027, per Yahoo Sports.
Quarterback Uncertainty Clouds an Otherwise Bold Rebuild
Atlanta's offense is built to win — but the quarterback room is unsettled. Michael Penix Jr. suffered a season-ending ACL injury on November 1, 2025. Kirk Cousins finished the year as starter, then was released on March 10, 2026. The Falcons signed former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on May 15 to compete with the recovering Penix Jr., per Yahoo Sports.
Pitts addressed the uncertainty directly in the official team release: "Atlanta is home. We've built a foundation here with Drake and Bijan, and I'm ready to see this through with whatever QB is under center." Head coach Kevin Stefanski has reportedly built a "Heavy-TE" offensive scheme designed to maximize Pitts' value regardless of who lines up at quarterback.
Why This Deal Resets the Entire Tight End Market
The $36 million guarantee represents 66% of the total contract value — an unusually high ratio for a tight end, according to CBS Sports. Analysts at Pro Football Focus argue Pitts is effectively a wide receiver playing under a tight end contract. If classified as a WR, his production would command roughly $25 million per year, meaning Atlanta saves about $7 million annually on cap space.
The deal also sets a new price floor for the next wave of young tight ends. Sam LaPorta of the Lions and Dalton Kincaid of the Bills are both extension-eligible soon and are expected to seek $20 million or more per year. "This is the largest three-year contract ever for a tight end," Yahoo Sports noted — and it likely will not hold that record for long.
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