# How will Kyle Pitts' new contract impact his usage in Kevin Stefanski's offense?

Great question. Here's the full picture on Pitts' new deal and what it means:

**The contract:** Pitts just signed a **3-year, $54M extension** (late June), replacing the franchise tag. That removes all the trade speculation that was hanging over his head since teams had been inquiring about him pre-draft (from the Kyle Pitts page).

**The scheme fit:** Kevin Stefanski's offenses in Cleveland targeted tight ends at elite rates — **27.2% of passes went to TEs (167 targets/season)**. Harold Fannin Jr. led the Browns in receptions as a rookie in 2025, which is basically a blueprint for what Pitts can be in Atlanta (from the Kyle Pitts page and Kevin Stefanski page).

**What changes now:** 
- ✅ **Stability** — No trade cloud. He's the long-term centerpiece TE, which should boost his ADP and confidence in drafting him.
- ✅ **Stefanski's track record** — This is the best schematic fit Pitts has ever had. The Falcons were bottom-five in pass rate at 55.9% last year; Stefanski's offenses have finished 8th in pass rate (62.2%), so more passing volume overall.
- ⚠️ **Volume concerns** — A Yahoo Sports sell signal notes that Pitts topped 10 fantasy points in only 6 of 17 games last year, and 4 of those came when Drake London was out. With London healthy and rookie WR Zachariah Branch added, targets won't be handed to him.
- ⚠️ **QB question** — Tua vs. Penix is unresolved, though Tua was connecting with Pitts on red-zone looks at OTAs.

**Bottom line:** The contract locks in his role and removes the biggest risk (a trade), and Stefanski's TE-friendly scheme is a dream fit. The ceiling is **top-5 TE, 1,000+ yards** per Heath Cummings' projections. But the boom/bust splits from 2025 are real — he's still competing with London and Bijan for touches. He's a high-upside TE1 with a safer floor now than he had two months ago.

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Answered 2026-06-24 by ChatFFB — fantasy football answers from a live news wiki.
Source: https://chatffb.com/ask/how-will-kyle-pitts-new-contract-impact-his-usage-in-kevin-stefanskis