The Atlanta Falcons are in the midst of a massive organizational reset. On Tuesday, star tight end Kyle Pitts officially signed his $15.045 million franchise tender, and the front office has confirmed it intends to be aggressive in the upcoming NFL Draft to further bolster the roster.
Changes are coming rapidly to Atlanta. The recent signing of Tua Tagovailoa has set the stage for a high-stakes quarterback competition, and the front office appears determined to build a versatile, high-powered offense around its new signal-caller.
By signing his franchise tender, Pitts becomes one of the league’s top earners at his position for the 2026 season—surpassing the annual averages of players like Isaiah Likely and Travis Kelce. With Pitts under contract, General Manager Ian Cunningham is now pivoting his focus to the NFL Draft as the primary vehicle for long-term roster improvement.
“For us, it’s one of those things where we have to go into this thinking we only have five picks. That’s worst case,” Cunningham said, via the team’s website. “If we come out of it with just five picks, we come out of it with just five picks. We are already looking at different ways to potentially manufacture some more. But if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out.”
The Falcons’ quarterback dilemma
Since the departure of Matt Ryan, the Falcons have struggled to find a long-term solution under center. While the team has made several attempts to secure a “franchise” successor, those efforts have yet to yield a deep playoff run.
Following the exit of Kirk Cousins earlier this offseason, many expected 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. to serve as the undisputed QB1. However, the arrival of Tua Tagovailoa—who joined Atlanta on a one-year, $1.3 million “prove-it” deal after being released by the Dolphins—has complicated the depth chart.
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As of today, Tagovailoa is the projected Week 1 starter for head coach Kevin Stefanski, as Penix Jr. continues to rehab a partially torn left ACL sustained late last season. While the team is exploring upgrades at several positions, the battle for the starting quarterback role remains the most intriguing storyline heading into the summer.
