The Atlanta Falcons are ushering in a fresh chapter with Kevin Stefanski at the helm as their new head coach. After being let go by the Cleveland Browns, Stefanski now has a chance to reset in a far more stable environment.
While his tenure in Cleveland had its struggles, much of that can be attributed to the dysfunction within the Browns’ organization itself. Stefanski has proven he possesses the qualities of a top-tier NFL head coach, and now, with a talented Falcons roster, he has the opportunity to showcase that fully.
Still, despite the promising setup in Atlanta, Stefanski will face some difficult decisions this offseason—chief among them being what to do with tight end Kyle Pitts.
The Falcons have options. They could place the franchise tag on Pitts, or they could let him walk in free agency if Stefanski wants to reshape the position. Should Pitts depart, the 2026 NFL Draft offers an appealing replacement.
One hallmark of Stefanski’s offenses has been the heavy involvement of tight ends. During his time in Cleveland, he maximized production from David Njoku and even got strong contributions from Harold Fannin Jr. For his system to operate effectively, a reliable and versatile tight end is essential—which makes Atlanta’s upcoming decision all the more critical.
If the Falcons move on from Pitts, they should set their sights on drafting Eli Stowers in 2026.
Stowers brings impressive physical tools. At 6’4″ and 235 pounds, he has the size to be a factor in various downfield scenarios. Whether excelling in contested catch situations or showing burst out of his breaks, his athleticism stands out and should translate well to the NFL level.
The main knock on Stowers is his blocking, which remains a work in progress. But his impact as a pass-catcher is hard to ignore. If Atlanta wants to keep the tight end position a central piece of the offense, drafting Stowers to fill Pitts’ shoes could be the right move
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