The Falcons officially placed their franchise tag on Pitts on Tuesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The expected move prevents Pitts from reaching the open market in free agency, while he and the Falcons have until July 15 to negotiate a potential multi-year extension. Per McElhaney, the projected franchise tag value for tight ends in 2026 will be approximately $16 million. The 2021 first-rounder is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he recorded 88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns (on 118 targets) in 17 games.

The Falcons are expected to designate Pitts with the franchise tag, retaining the impending free agent for the 2026 season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Atlanta will keep Pitts in house via the franchise tag, a one-year exclusive deal worth over $15 million for the 2026 campaign, rather than let the 2021 first-round pick reach the open market as a free agent. NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports that the team wants to retain Pitts via a long-term deal, and the franchise tag will allow both sides until mid-July to negotiate on a potential multi-year extension. New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Ian Cunningham appear to consider it a priority to keep around long term Pitts after he broke out with 88 catches, 928 yards and five touchdowns (118 targets) across 17 regular-season appearances in 2025, career-high marks across the board.

Pitts secured six of nine targets for 58 yards in the Falcons' 19-17 win over the Saints on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran tight end played a key role in a Falcons victory that made the Panthers the NFC South champions in the process, leading the way in both receptions and targets on the afternoon while also securing the ball on New Orleans' last-ditch onside-kick attempt. Pitts' Week 18 performance put a fitting cap on a strong stretch run that saw him record at least six receptions and 57 yards in five of his final six games. Pitts wrapped up the 2025 regular season with a well-timed 88-928-5 receiving line across 17 games, and both his reception and touchdown totals qualified as career-high figures with unrestricted free agency looming this offseason.

Pitts (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Saints, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pitts has been deemed available for the season finale after he was listed as questionable heading into Sunday following a trio of limited practices during the week. Though the Atlanta coaching staff hasn't specifically mentioned that Pitts will be on a restricted snap count Sunday, fantasy managers should be cognizant that the tight end could carry more playing-time risk than usual since he's nursing an injury and the 7-9 Falcons are eliminated from playoff contention and have little at stake in the season finale. Like Pitts, wideouts Drake London (knee) and Darnell Mooney (knee) were also listed as questionable following Friday's practice but will be available to play in some capacity.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Friday that he's optimistic that Pitts (knee) will be able to suit up for Sunday's season finale against New Orleans, but that the tight end is officially listed as questionable, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morris offered identical evaluations for top wideouts Drake London (knee) and Darnell Mooney (knee). Pitts fell down to earth during Atlanta's win over the Rams in Week 17, a contest in which he secured just two of three targets for 16 yards while Kirk Cousins completed just 13 passes. Across his prior four appearances, though, Pitts had averaged 98.8 receiving yards per game and totaled four receiving scores. If he's indeed cleared to suit up versus the Saints, the pending unrestricted free agent will have no shortage of motivation to log another performance reminiscent of those four outings.

Pitts (knee) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

This marks Pitts' fourth week in a row being listed on Atlanta injury reports with a knee issue, but he's been able to suit up for each of the last three games, compiling a 20-239-4 line on 24 targets during that stretch. Friday's practice report will reveal whether or not Pitts enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's contest against the Saints.

Pitts (knee) is listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pitts has had his practice reps capped leading up to each of Atlanta's last three games due to a lingering knee injury, but he's managed to gain clearance for each of those contests without being assigned an official injury designation. The starting tight end fell back down to earth with just two catches for 16 yards (on three targets) during Monday's win over the Rams, a 27-24 win in which Kirk Cousins completed just 13 passes for 126 yards. Pitts will work to gain clearance and bounce back during Sunday's regular-season finale against the Saints.

Pitts secured two of three targets for 16 yards in the Falcons' 27-24 win over the Rams on Monday night.

EDGE Analysis

Pitts came into the night in the midst of a productive stretch where he'd recorded at least six receptions and 57 yards in four straight contests, but he endured a notable downturn on what was a quiet night for the air attack overall. Taken in the context of Kirk Cousins throwing for only 126 yards on 13 completions, Pitts' modest numbers are a bit more understandable, and he'll look to improve on what is already a career-best 82-870-5 line in the Week 18 home matchup against the Saints on Sunday.

Pitts (knee) does not carry an injury designation for Monday's game against Los Angeles.

EDGE Analysis

Pitts was limited in practice both Friday and Saturday, but he'll continue playing through the knee injury that also bothered him during Atlanta's previous two practice weeks. The starting tight end will look to stay hot despite a difficult matchup against the Rams' stingy defense. Through five appearances since Kirk Cousins took over as Atlanta's starting quarterback, Pitts has racked up an outstanding 33-420-4 receiving line on 44 targets.

Pitts (knee) was limited in practice Friday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pitts was not listed on Thursday's estimated injury report, but with the Falcons logging on-field work one day later, his limitations may just be maintenance for the knee issue that bothered him before both of the last two games. In any case, the starting tight end's activity level during Saturday's session will be monitored closely. Pitts has broken out in a massive way across his last four regular-season appearances, in which span he's averaged 98.8 receiving yards per game and recorded four touchdowns.