Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Tight End

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The Falcons are in an interesting spot with the tight end position in 2023. Kyle Pitts will be back, and they got good production out of some impending free agents. Arthur Smith loves tight ends, but I don’t think they need to allocate a ton of resources to the position. We spent some big money on wide receivers, so I may look to bring back contributors from 2022 for this portion of the exercise.

If you want to check out my articles from my previous offseason series — One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, and One Trade — those will be linked below:

Previous editions of this series are listed below:

Current Rostered Tight Ends

TE Kyle Pitts

Outside of Feleipe Franks, who I have cut or on the practice squad, Pitts is the only tight end on the roster. The Falcons have three impending free agents, who we’ll get to in a moment:

Re-Sign Parker Hesse and MyCole Pruitt

Yeah, we’re gonna keep the band together. Parker Hesse is an exclusive rights free agent, which means the Falcons can tender him a minimum deal. Pruitt has a connection to Smith, and he seemed to work well in the offense in 2022, especially when Pitts went down. I’m not blown away by this tight end class, so let’s not re-invent the wheel.

Parker Hesse re-signs for $950k

MyCole Pruitt re-signs for $1 million

Draft Darnell Washington

In my offseason Mock Draft 1.0, here’s what I had to say about one of my favorite prospects out of Athens in this entire draft:

Round 2, Pick 45: TE Darnell Washington — Georgia

Okay, don’t roll your eyes. Instead, close them, and imagine Darnell Washington paired with Kyle Pitts and Drake London. I think Washington is the best player available by a mile. He stands at a menacing 6’7 and 270 pounds. Not only does he move like a guy half that size, but he also has soft hands and is a tenacious run blocker. Don’t be surprised if Washington starts getting some first round love — he is an absolute specimen. This team needs weapons, and Washington could be a huge one. If the Falcons properly address the trenches in free agency, Washington is the type of pick that can give a bad offense a boost.

Washington not only gives Atlanta a staunch run blocker, but they also get a big time weapon in the pass game.

Overhauled Rostered Tight Ends

TE Kyle Pitts

TE Darnell Washington

TE MyCole Pruitt

TE Parker Hesse

Washington is the only upgrade here, but he’s a big one — literally. With the size and athleticism of London, Pitts, and Washington — the Falcons may finally give defensive coordinators fits again in 2023. John FitzPatrick will be on the practice squad after recovering from injury, at least to begin 2023.

Current Roster: 16

QB Desmond Ridder

QB Taylor Heinicke

RB Tyler Allgeier

RB Cordarrelle Patterson

RB Justin Jackson 

RB Avery Williams

RB Caleb Huntley

WR Drake London

WR Allen Lazard

WR Ronnie Bell

WR Olamide Zaccheaus

WR Frank Darby

TE Kyle Pitts

TE Darnell Washington

TE MyCole Pruitt

TE Parker Hesse

Draft Picks Remaining

  • Round 1, Pick 8
  • Round 3, Pick 76
  • Round 4, Pick 110 (from TEN)
  • Round 5, Pick 155 (from JAX)
  • Round 6, Pick 182
  • Round 7, Pick 226 (from LV)
  • Round 7, Pick 249 (from BUF)

2023 Cap Space Allotted: $16.3 Million

Quarterback: -$6 million

Running Back: $900k

Wide Receiver: $19.5 million

Tight End: $1.9 million

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Photographer: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire

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