Atlanta Falcons post-draft position preview: Tight end
Atlanta Falcons post-draft position preview: Tight end Kyle Pitts, Charlie Woerner set to lead Falcons tight end room again in 2025
The Atlanta Falcons are still a few months from getting back on the football field, but they aren't likely to make any major moves before the 2025 NFL season rolls around. Despite making few changes on offense, the Falcons have enough weapons on that side of the ball to make some serious noise in the NFC this year.
The team lost starting center Drew Dalman in free agency, but 10 of 11 offensive starters will return in 2025. The tight end position is largely unchanged. Former top-five pick Kyle Pitts will look to recapture the magic from his Pro Bowl rookie season with young Michael Penix Jr. throwing him the football.
The Falcons brought in a few affordable free agents, including Arthur Smith's former pet project, QB/TE Feleipe Franks, to bolster the tight end room. So what should fans expect from this group in 2025?
Check out Atlanta's post-draft tight end breakdown below, and make sure to read our other position breakdowns (quarterback, running back, wide receiver) ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
TE Depth Chart (6):
Kyle Pitts Charlie Woerner Teagan Quitoriano Feleipe Franks Nikola Kalinic Joshua Simon
The Falcons did not re-sign Ross Dwelley in free agency but brought in Teagan Quitoriano and Feleipe Franks for depth behind Pitts and Woerner. Pitts will likely continue to play a hybrid tight end/wide receiver role with Woerner playing a more traditional in-line blocker role. Franks is still a project but has a chance to make the roster due to his versatility. The team is also high on undrafted free agent Joshua Simon, a projected Day 3 pick out of South Carolina.
2025 salary cap hits
Pitts: $10,878,000 Woerner: $3,730,000 Franks: $1,420,000 Quitoriano: $1,100,000 Kalinic: $965,000 Simon: $846,666
Pitts is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The team picked up his fifth-year option, which will cost $10.8 million this season. The former No. 4 pick should have all the motivation in the world to play his best this season and cash during the offseason, either in Atlanta or somewhere else. Woerner is set to earn just under $3.75 million this season. Nobody else is set to make over $1.5 million in 2025.
Top free agents available:
Gerald Everett
MyCole Pruitt
C.J. Uzomah
Jordan Akins
Hayden Hurst
The team could look to free agency to add another tight end before training camp. Two former Falcons players would make interesting fits. Hayden Hurst and MyCole Pruitt had success during their time in Atlanta and could be valuable depth additions. Veterans Gerald Everett and CJ Uzomah are also options for the Falcons in free agency.
Predictions/expectations for 2025
The Falcons did not draft a tight end and will look to Pitts and Woerner to lead the room yet again in 2025. Woerner rarely gets the recognition he deserves but is one of the better blocking tight ends in the league. Pitts has moments where he looks like a top-five pick, and others where he seems to disappear. I think the consistent presence of Penix will bring out the best in Pitts this season. I don't think he tops 1,000 yards but could get close if he stays healthy.
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