FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. produced a 2025 season that brought back memories of his breakout rookie year.
While his 928 receiving yards were not enough to break the 1,000-yard mark again, he came much closer than he has in the past three seasons. Pitts ranked second among NFL tight ends behind only Trey McBride, who had 1,239 receiving yards for the Arizona Cardinals.
Pitts led the Falcons with his total, making him one of six tight ends to lead their team. He was ultimately responsible for 25.1% of Atlanta's overall receiving yards, which also ranked him second to just McBride among tight ends.
McBride and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle were voted to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games in the NFC, but Pitts was named the No. 2 alternate, so he may still make it for the second time in his career.
Learn more below about how the Falcons' tight ends performed in 2025 and the position group's outlook for 2026.
Roster Recap: Quarterback | Running back
2025 production:
| Player | Games Played | Starts | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Pitts Sr. | 17 | 17 | 88 | 118 | 928 | 5 |
| Charlie Woerner | 17 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 48 | 0 |
| Teagan Quitoriano | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feleipe Franks | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Standout stat: Pitts is only the second-ever Falcons tight end to lead Atlanta in receiving yards for multiple seasons. He did so in 2021 with 1,026 yards and in 2025 with 928. The other was Alge Crumpler, who did so for three consecutive seasons as Michael Vick's favorite target – 774 yards in 2004, 877 yards in 2005 and 780 yards in 2006.
Players under contract for 2026:
- Charlie Woerner
2026 Free agents:
- Kyle Pitts Sr.
- Feleipe Franks
- Teagan Quitoriano
Biggest question facing the position group in 2026:
Will the Falcons use their franchise tag on Pitts?
The former first-round draft pick played on his fifth-year option for the 2025 season. Pitts is bound for free agency for the first time in 2026 unless the Falcons choose to use their franchise tag on him or bring him back to Atlanta with a new contract.
Pitts was initially asked about his future on Dec. 17 – after he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week because he posted 166 yards and three touchdowns in the Falcons' win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Personally, I don't think about the money, I don't think about contracts," he said. "I think about just being here in the moment with my teammates and with my brothers. I get to see these guys every day, and it's just fun being here with them. Whatever happens in the future happens."
A week later, he was asked again – after another Falcons' victory where he totaled 57 yards and a touchdown to help beat the Arizona Cardinals.
"That's an agent question," Pitts said. "I won't even call him and even ask about that. That'd be something when the time is and he calls me on it, then we'll talk. But that's not something I'm worried about or will be reaching out to be inquiring about."
The time is approaching, though, especially now that the Falcons' season is over.
The NFL's deadline for clubs to designate franchise players is March 3. According to Over the Cap, the franchise tag for a tight end is projected to be around $15.8 million for 2026.
The new league year – and therefore, free agency – then begins March 11.
