NFL teams are permitted to use franchise and transition tags on pending free agents from Feb. 17 through March 3, giving clubs a key mechanism to retain top players ahead of the new league year and the opening of free agency. During this window, front offices evaluate their rosters, salary-cap situations and long-term plans to determine whether to apply a tag, negotiate a multi-year extension or allow a player to test the open market.
One of the most notable developments of the 2026 tagging period so far is the Atlanta Falcons’ decision to place the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts. By using the tag, the Falcons secure Pitts’ rights for the 2026 season while both sides can continue to explore the possibility of a longer-term agreement. The move signals Atlanta’s intention to keep a central piece of its passing offense in place rather than risk losing him in free agency.
The franchise tag binds a player to his current team for one season at a salary based on a formula tied to the top contracts at his position or a percentage increase over his prior year’s pay, whichever is higher. Teams may use either the exclusive franchise tag, which prevents other clubs from negotiating with the player, or the nonexclusive version, which allows the player to seek offers elsewhere but gives the original team the right to match or receive draft-pick compensation if it declines. The specific type of tag used for Pitts, as well as the exact salary figure, has not been disclosed in the provided information.
Beyond Atlanta’s decision on Pitts, teams across the league are reviewing similar choices with their own high-profile players. Front offices typically weigh factors such as age, production, positional value, and projected cap growth when deciding whether to deploy a tag. Some clubs use the tag as a short-term solution while they negotiate a multi-year extension; others may treat it as a one-year commitment when they are not yet ready to make a longer investment.
The tag deadline of March 3 often serves as a catalyst for activity, with some players reaching long-term deals shortly before the cutoff and others formally receiving the franchise or transition designation as the window closes. Once the period ends, players who are not tagged become eligible to enter free agency when the market opens, shaping roster construction and depth charts around the league.
While specific tag values, cap figures and additional tagged players beyond Kyle Pitts are not detailed in the available text, the overarching dynamic remains clear: the tag period is a pivotal phase of the offseason. Atlanta’s move with Pitts is one early step in a leaguewide process that will influence contract negotiations, player movement and team planning for the 2026 season and beyond.
As the March 3 deadline approaches, more decisions are expected to be finalized, and the list of tagged players will help define the early structure of the upcoming free agent class. For now, the Falcons have made their intentions known by ensuring that one of their most prominent offensive players remains under team control for at least one more year.
