Who Should I Start? Kyle Pitts Sr. or AJ Barner

Tuesday, June 23, 2:58 PM

Tight end Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract extension on Tuesday that includes $36 million fully guaranteed, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's the largest three-year contract for a tight end in NFL history. Pitts gets a massive extension after breaking out for 88 receptions (118 targets) for 928 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 17 starts in his fifth year in Atlanta. The former fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft out of the University of Florida had 1,026 receiving yards in his first NFL season, but it came with just one touchdown, and he continued to disappoint fantasy managers the following three seasons with nine combined touchdown receptions in 44 games played. Pitts is now the third-highest-paid TE in the NFL behind George Kittle and Trey McBride in terms of annual average salary. While Pitts is a clear top-10 fantasy tight end going into 2026, fantasy managers who have been burned by him before recognize the bust potential, especially with the Falcons' uncertain QB position between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. (knee).