The Falcons didn’t have a ton of money to spend on addressing their needs in free agency, but it wasn’t a quiet offseason in Atlanta. The first order of business for the new regime was contract extensions for four players they clearly view as pillars of the franchise. A couple of them were no-brainers. The other two don’t come without questions.
Kyle Pitts — 3 years, $54 million, $36 million guaranteed
Perhaps the most intriguing decision of the offseason surrounded former 4th overall pick Kyle Pitts. He was set to play the 2026 campaign on the franchise tag, but instead the Falcons handed him an extension worth $54 million with $36 million guaranteed.
The structure is what makes it interesting. Pitts is set to count just $4.6 million against the cap in 2026. That number rises to around $8 million in 2027 before jumping to $13 million in year three. Those are more than palatable rates for a tight end of Pitts’ caliber, even if he never becomes the perennial 1,000-yard threat he was drafted to be — and the Falcons pulled it off by voiding $27.4 million of his salary across 2029-2032.
Atlanta will have a decision to make after his second season, with an opt-out that would turn this into a two-year, $36 million deal and carry a dead cap hit of just over $10 million in 2028. That’s not horrendous. And if Pitts performs, we could be talking about another lucrative extension for him in a couple of years.
Overpay? No
Drake London — 4 years, $141.5 million, $99.9 million guaranteed
London’s extension falls squarely in the no-brainer category. He might be the most underrated receiver in the game today, finishing fourth in the league in receiving yards two years ago to go along with nine touchdowns, and his numbers likely would have been even better in 2025 if not for injuries. He still finished with nearly 1,000 yards in just 12 games — and it’s not as if he’s benefitted from quality quarterback play.
The extension makes London the fourth-highest paid receiver in the league. You could argue he’s not quite that high on the list of pass catchers, but he’s not far off, and that’s simply not how NFL contracts work. By the time London is in year three of this deal, he’ll likely be well outside the top 10 among the highest paid wideouts.
Overpay? No
Matthew Bergeron — 4 years, $96 million, $60 million guaranteed
As far as surprises go, Bergeron’s new contract was the eye-popper. An extension was warranted for the former second-round pick, but the Falcons chose to make him the highest-paid guard in the league, tying Tyler Smith of the Cowboys.
Bergeron is an above-average starting guard, but he hasn’t sniffed a Pro Bowl or All-Pro selection. Hell, he’s not even the best guard on his own team with Chris Lindstrom in the fold. Again, players don’t have to be the best at their position to reset the market — but Bergeron is going to have to be miles better than what he showed on his rookie deal to prove he’s worth this kind of money. This one was a head-scratcher.
Overpay? Massively
Bijan Robinson — 3 years, $75 million, $51 million guaranteed
Robinson reset the market in more ways than one. His $25 million per season is more than $4 million clear of Saquon Barkley, and $51 million guaranteed is the most ever for a running back. It’s a historic deal, though one that could be surpassed very soon when the Lions extend Jahmyr Gibbs.
It’s good the Falcons got it done before that happened, and while it’s pricey, they didn’t really have much of a choice. Bijan Robinson isn’t just one of the best running backs in the league — he’s in the conversation for the best overall player. There isn’t an aspect of his game that’s lacking, from rushing to receiving to pass blocking. He’s the type of football player made in a lab, someone Atlanta was never going to let walk.
The length is also attractive. Robinson will be 28 when the contract is up, so performance shouldn’t be an issue as long as he stays healthy, and there might even be an opportunity to keep him in Atlanta beyond it.
Overpay? No
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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)