Atlanta

Falcons

Just yesterday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano opined that the Falcons might want to see how Pitts fits in their new offense before committing to a long-term contract. Today, his colleague Marc Raimondi published comments from Pitts, who described the tag as being “kind of like my fifth-year option, but it’s a sixth-year option.” Pitts believes that the new staff’s tag use shows that they see something in him and “trust” him. Tagged players sometimes hold out or argue for a long-term deal. Not Pitts. He is ready to play. Stefanski, a former tight ends coach, has helped deliver TE1 results over the years. Per PFF, flats and hitches were Pitts’ most run routes last year. Based on Stefanski’s 2025 play designs with the Browns, Pitts could run them even more this year, while also running more drags, curls and potentially, overs. Pitts is a TE1 this season, but his range of potential outcomes is still being decided. Hopefully, we learn more during training camp next month.

Pitts is set to play on the franchise tag worth $15.045 million if he and the Falcons don’t agree to an extension by July 15. With Drake London signing a $141 million extension and Bijan Robinson also set to cash in this offseason, it’s unclear if the Falcons will also extend Pitts. The 25-year-old tight end had an excellent season in 2025, but was inconsistent in the previous four seasons. Graziano writes that if no extension is agreed upon and the Falcons struggle early in the season, he could become a trade candidate. He mentions the Raves as a team that would likely have interest.

London can make up to $150 million on the new contract, which includes $100 million guaranteed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that the deal “makes London the third-highest-paid receiver in the league with the highest average per year in Falcons franchise history.” Over the course of his four-year career, London has caught 309-of-473 targets for 3,961 yards and 22 touchdowns. A knee injury sidelined him in Weeks 12-15 last year, yet he still led the team with seven receiving touchdowns. London, 24, has not yet been named to a Pro Bowl, nor has he earned All-Pro honors, but it is reasonable to expect him to bring home a few accolades in the coming seasons. London is a WR1 for 2026.

Stefanski went on to explain that he believes accuracy is “the most important trait at the position,” after referring to Tagovailoa’s accuracy as being “God-given.” Stefanski then quickly added that “all” of the Falcons quarterbacks have this innate trait, but it was easy to see that his focus was on the former Dolphins quarterback. Tagovailoa’s downfield passing showed signs of decline last season, but he has evidently earned a public compliment from his new head coach. The battle for the Falcons’ starting job between Tagovailoa and QB Michael Penix continues.

“It’s all very intentional,” Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters when asked about the team’s quarterback rotation in offseason practices. Penix, coming off knee surgery this offseason, is participating in individual drills and seven on seven drills for now. When he’s ready, Penix is expected to split first-team snaps with Tagovailoa, by far the more accurate of the two Atlanta QBs. Falcons president of football operations Matt Ryan said in early May that he was unsure if Penix would be fully healthy to start training camp in late July. Stefanski has said the team will not “rush” Penix back under center. Tagovailoa, who ranks sixth in EPA per drop back over the past three NFL seasons, would seem to be the odds-on favorite to start the regular season as Atlanta’s starter.

He also throws out the Falcons and Rams as “interesting landing spots.” It sounds like a potential return to New England is being tethered to the potential of an A.J. Brown trade, and with that feeling inevitable at this point, Diggs would then move on to the next part of his list if he wasn’t able to return to New England. Diggs has had a very quiet free agency to this point.

Terrell becomes the lowest-drafted player in NFL history to receive a fully-guaranteed deal. The brother to Falcons corner A.J. Terrell, Avieon Terrell put together a solid career during his time at Clemson, playing almost exclusively on the outside while forcing three interceptions and breaking up another 17 passes. He’s expected to earn an early starting role on the perimeter in his rookie season and should help improve a defense that was already 13th in net YPA allowed (5.8) last season.

Penix is nearly six months removed from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 11 of the 2025 season. The team was uncertain of his status heading into camp, but the good news for Penix is that he “is participating in Phase 2 of the Falcons’ offseason program”, a team spokesperson told ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. Per NFL rules, this means Penix can participate in “individual and group instruction and drills but not a full-fledged practice with 11-on-11s or 7-on-7s.” The 26-year-old has now suffered three torn ACLs over his college and pro career and may be competing with Tua Tagovailoa for the Falcons’ starting job. Participation in parts of the Falcons’ offseason program is a good sign for Penix while he ramps back up to full health.

The NFL announced that the Bengals and Falcons will play in Madrid for Week 9 of the 2026 season. It is the NFL’s second time having a game in Madrid, reaching a deal earlier this year to play more games at Bernabeu Stadium, home of the Real Madrid soccer club. Burrow will play his first career international game, the Bengals’ first in seven years. Meanwhile, Bijan Robinson and the Falcons will return overseas after playing in Berlin last year. Both teams will hope to be contending in their division at this halfway-point in the season after both missed the playoffs last season.

Walton, 28, earned a 68.3 PFF offense grade via 24 offensive snaps with the Panthers in 2025. Before that, he earned a 64.2 PFF offense grade in 2022, playing for the Buccaneers. With today’s signing, Walton has now signed with three of the NFC South’s four teams.