For about 18 months, Kyle Pitts was the most-discussed tight end in the NFL and not for reasons the Falcons wanted.
A contract standoff. A question about whether he was a true #1. A 2025 season in which he put up respectable numbers but never felt like the player Atlanta mortgaged its 2021 first-round pick to get.
Through three days of training camp at Flowery Branch, that player is back.
What we’re seeing
Pitts has caught everything thrown his way in 7-on-7 and team drills, including a contested grab along the sideline Thursday that drew a noticeable reaction from the sideline. He’s running crisper routes than he did at any point last season, and the timing with Kirk Cousins — back healthy after a late-season injury scare — looks noticeably sharper than it did in 2025.
“He’s the best athlete on the field. That’s not new. What’s new is the football I.Q. — he’s seeing the game two steps ahead now.”
— Falcons tight ends coach, post-practice Wednesday
The contract situation is also resolved. Pitts signed a four-year, $82 million extension in late May that made him the highest-paid tight end in the league by average annual value. Both sides wanted the deal done before camp; the holdup was guarantees, not money.
What’s around him
The bigger question is who else steps up. The Falcons’ offense runs through Pitts and Bijan Robinson, and that’s two players. Beyond those two, the pass-catching depth chart has real question marks:
- Drake London is the clear #1 wide receiver, but he and Pitts have struggled historically to coexist in the red zone.
- Darnell Mooney, signed in free agency, has looked good but is still learning the offense.
- The slot receiver job is genuinely up for grabs between Ray-Ray McCloud and rookie Casey Washington.
The Falcons’ line is also banged up. Right tackle Kaleb McGary is on the PUP list and isn’t expected back until mid-August.
What to watch
Three storylines I’ll be tracking through the rest of camp:
- Red-zone usage. How the Falcons deploy Pitts and London inside the 20 will tell us everything about the new offensive staff’s priorities.
- Two-tight-end sets. The Falcons used 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR) heavily down the stretch in 2025. That trend should continue — and it’ll tell us how the team values blocking from the tight end room.
- Bijan Robinson’s pass-game role. Robinson caught 65 passes last year. He should catch 80+ this year. The Falcons need to use him as a safety valve for Cousins, especially on third down.
Jordan Reyes covers the Falcons, Hawks, Braves, Atlanta United, and Georgia high school sports for WACN 21. Reach him at jreyes@wacn21.com.