Kevin Stefanski can bring familiar face to Falcons to replace TE Kyle Pitts

The Atlanta Falcons have been facing this looming Kyle Pitts question for a while.

The talented tight end's free agent offseason has arrived, and now they have to decide what to do with their former first-round pick.

Pitts could be given the franchise tag. He could earn a long-term extension. Or he could be allowed to leave in free agency.

A lot will depend on what the new decision makers Matt Ryan and Kevin Stefanski want to do.

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The big help with Stefanski in this situation is that he's got an old connection from his time with the Cleveland Browns that could help replace Pitts.

David Njoku, another athletic tight end, is also a free agent this offseason.

Pro Football Focus writer Bradley Locker thinks a Njoku reunion with Stefanski makes a lot of sense.

"The Falcons will have to gauge whether or not to re-sign multiple important free agents like Kyle Pitts, Kaden Elliss and David Onyemata," Locker writes. "If Pitts — the No. 1 tight end on the market — gets priced out of Atlanta, then a Njoku reunion with new head coach Kevin Stefanski would make sense."

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Njoku generally is regarded as a starting-level tight end, although he struggled as part of a bumpy passing game with the Browns in 2025.

"The 2025 season was a down one for Njoku with a 55.9 overall PFF grade and only 1.06 yards per route run," Locker writes. "But from 2021 onward, his 73.9 PFF receiving grade ranks 14^th among qualified tight ends, and his 6.0 yards after the catch per reception is third. Njoku would help replicate Pitts’ field-stretching skillset and be a natural fit in Stefanski’s offense."

Stefanski would certainly have a good idea of how Njoku can be utilized, if this connection ends up coming together.

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