FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have high hopes for their offense in 2025; what they are able to get out of their tight end group could dictate whether those are reached.
When the Falcons were rolling last season, the tight end was a factor. When Atlanta faded in the second half, its tight ends weren't involved to the same degree. Getting consistent production from a player like Kyle Pitts could be what helps the Falcons' offense truly break out in 2025.
He's not the only notable player in the team's tight end room, though, so let's take a look at the state of the position heading into training camp.
More position previews: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers
TIGHT END
Position coach: Kevin Koger
Returning starters: Kyle Pitts, Charlie Woerner
Notable newcomers: Teagan Quitoriano, Feleipe Franks
Rest of the roster: Nikola Klinic, Joshua Simon
Offseason departures: Ross Dwelley
3 key questions for Atlanta's tight ends
1. What is Kyle Pitts' role in the offense?
This has been a recurring question for the last few offseasons, but 2025 could be the last chance Pitts has to provide a definitive answer in Atlanta. He enters the final year of his rookie contract and will need to show more consistency throughout the season.
There were flashes of brilliance from Pitts in 2024, most notably his two-touchdown performance against Tampa Bay in Week 8, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is optimistic that he can continue to make strides.
"I am expecting Kyle to take a big jump in Year 2 of the system, Year 2 of understanding what we are trying to do offensively, all those things that come with it," Robinson said. "So, expecting a lot of good things from Kyle."
The 24-year-old tight end caught 47 passes for 602 yards and a career-best four touchdowns last season. Pitts logged the best catch rate and the second most yards per reception of his career as well, and he was on the receiving end of a crucial fourth-down touchdown against Washington that sent the game into overtime.
2. Can Charlie Woerner improve on a standout first year?
If Pitts' season was up-and-down, Woerner's was all about reliability. In his first season with the Falcons, Woerner quickly established himself as an edge-setter in the run game. His skills as a blocker were a large reason why the Falcons finished with the third-most rushing yards outside of the tackles in the NFL. Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger aptly described what makes Woerner so valuable when discussing the overall nature of the position.
"You are involved in essentially all parts of the offense: run game, pass game, pass protection. So, we have to know it all. I tell those guys in the room, 'Our job as a tight end is to make it right.' It's not always going to be perfect. Football is an imperfect game. For us, we have to be able to operate in a grey area."
Few players operated in the grey area better than Woerner in 2024. For Atlanta's offense to continue to improve, he'll need to build on that in Year 2.
3. Who emerges as the third tight end?
While Pitts and Woerner are firmly established atop Atlanta's depth chart, the roles behind them are less clear. The Falcons added veterans Feleipe Franks, Nikola Kalinic and Teagan Quitoriano to the roster this offseason, and they signed Joshua Simon as an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina.
Simon has looked the part so far, although it's still extremely early in the process for him. Given where he is in his development, a spot on the practice squad feels most likely at this point. That leaves the veterans vying for that third spot on the 53-man roster.
Franks is familiar to the Falcons, and he offers a lot of special teams value, which will be critical for a third tight end. Quitoriano has fit in nicely since arriving in Atlanta, though, and he could make it a real competition in training camp. Both he and Kalinic are relative unknowns at this point, but each should get the chance to make an impression in camp and the preseason.
