All signs have pointed to the Falcons retaining Kyle Pitts in 2026. He’s signed his franchise tender, is the best receiving tight end on a team that will be spamming that button under Kevin Stefanski, and is coming off a career season that suggest the best is yet to come for the 25-year-old mega-talent. I still believe that he will be a Falcon in Week 1.
But that doesn’t mean there will be zero interest in Pitts, or that moving him is an impossibility. In his collection of agent shreds, team morsels,
and executive scraps from before the NFL Draft, Adam Schefter mentioned twice that Pitts could draw real interest from other teams and could be moved. To wit:
Though Brown and Greenard are two of the biggest trade candidates — and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II was already traded Saturday to Cincinnati for the No. 10 pick — there are plenty more who could be dealt during the upcoming draft.
Those who could gain interest include Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., Titans quarterback Will Levis, Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler, Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II, Giants edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman and 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, among others.
And also:
And if a team prefers to invest in a veteran tight end, it always could call the Falcons about Kyle Pitts Sr. At last month’s owners meetings, Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham told reporters that, though he was excited to have Pitts on his roster, he was also willing to entertain offers for his franchised player.
“It’s my job as the general manager to do what’s best for the organization,” Cunningham said. “Kyle is a great player. We’ve seen his skill set. Also, it’s my job to listen.”
You’ll note none of this is very concrete, and is more about the idea that teams will be interested in Pitts and Cunningham will pick up the phone if someone reaches out. That alone does open the door to the Falcons being blown away by an offer from a team like the Ravens (depending on an increasingly creaky Mark Andrews), Bengals (a motley collection of so-so options), and Titans (ditto). I do think the Falcons would have to recoup really significant value for Pitts unless they believe there’s little chance of locking him to a long-term deal, and even then we’re talking a day two selection. His age, 2025 production, and obvious talent demand that.
The Falcons would have to get back the draft capital they’d need to add more offensive firepower, in other words. Today, they have Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, Austin Hooper and Pitts as compelling-to-solid receiving options, and subtracting Pitts from that mix would take away the team’s de facto second option in the passing game. I don’t think that’s something the team will do lightly in a year where it’s critical that they properly evaluate their quarterbacks.
Don’t look for a deal, in other words, but do keep it in mind as one of the handful of interesting twists the Falcons could put on what otherwise will be a very sleepy draft for the team.
