With Cade Otton set to hit free agency and likely more valued by other teams than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the tight end position will be a priority for the Bucs. Just don't get your hopes up for new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson reuniting with Kyle Pitts, because he's staying with the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFL Network's main insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Falcons are planning on making Pitts the first player franchise tagged this offseason, spending $15 million for a one-year deal to guarantee that the former Florida Gators sensation doesn't test the open waters.
Pitts was by far the most valuable tight end set to hit the free agent market, so the Falcons are taking away one of the league's most potent potential weapons - someone with prodigious talent who caught a career high 80+ passes in 2025.
Kyle Pitts is staying with the Atlanta Falcons
The Buccaneers have a talented impending free agent tight end of their own in Otton, so Pitts staying in Atlanta for at least one more season, in theory, increases the chances of the Bucs keeping the flexible, high-upside pass-catcher.
But Otton's had a few years to kick on in Tampa Bay with ample opportunity to step up after all the injuries around him. He just never did, showing up too little, too late with 90+ receiving yards against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17.
A lot of Otton's issues in 2025 can also be ascribed to Josh Grizzard, whom the Bucs fired swiftly upon the conclusion of the season to replace him with Robinson from Atlanta. Otton's fate is going to be tied to Robinson, but the organization probably doesn't value Otton from a front office perspective like other teams that use the pass-catching tight end more.
Pitts staying in the NFC South is also a tough blow for Tampa Bay. The Bucs were embarrassed by a Kirk Cousins-led Falcons offense on Thursday Night Football before the season ended, and the Falcs ended up not being far off the pace from the Bucs in the standings by Week 17.
With Kevin Stefanski now coaching Atlanta and Michael Penix Jr. set to benefit from a coaching staff that actually gives a crap about him, Pitts could explode after finally flashing his superstar quality in the 2025 season, especially when Drake London went down. Pitts staying in Atlanta is bad news for the Buccaneers on two counts, and now it's their move at tight end, which could be a key area of need on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.