The Atlanta Falcons announced a three‑year, $54 million agreement with Kyle Pitts, cementing the former Florida tight end’s place among the league’s elite at his position and guaranteeing $36 million of the total value.
A Deal That Moves the Needle
Under the terms of the pact, $36 million is fully guaranteed, placing Pitts third in annual salary among tight ends, trailing only George Kittle and Trey McBride.
Pitts’ rise was underscored by a spectacular December outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he logged 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns — a performance that made him the first tight end since Shannon Sharpe in 1996 to achieve at least 150 yards and three scores in a single game.
The contract follows a season in which Pitts recorded 88 receptions for 928 yards and five touchdowns, numbers that helped him rank second among tight ends in both receptions and receiving yards.
The Falcons had previously exercised the franchise tag on Pitts for 2026, a move that carried an annual cap hit of $15,045,000, signaling a long‑term commitment despite earlier draft‑day controversy when he was selected fourth overall in 2021.
While the deal reflects a strategic investment in the offense, it also ties Pitts to a franchise that has previously courted other high‑profile tight ends such as the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals, though the move keeps him in the Southeast.