With Matt Ryan, Ian Cunningham, and Kevin Stefanski now in place at the Atlanta Falcons facility, the team’s leadership is preparing for several key decisions regarding player contracts and free agency.
Cunningham will lead draft meetings starting next week while also working with Ryan, Stefanski, and other staff to develop a plan for the Falcons’ impending free agents. Meetings are underway with those responsible for contracts and salary cap management.
Several important dates mark the upcoming NFL free agency period. Teams have until March 3 at 4 p.m. ET to use the franchise or transition tag on a player. From March 9-11, teams can negotiate with certified agents of players set to become unrestricted free agents when their 2025 contracts expire. The new league year begins on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET; all 2025 contracts end then, allowing teams to sign free agents and make trades.
Currently, the Falcons have 19 impending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), five restricted free agents (RFAs), and four exclusive rights free agents (ERFAs). This information is attributed to Spotrac.
Unrestricted free agents are players with four or more accrued seasons whose contracts have expired; they may sign with any team.
Among UFAs, tight end Kyle Pitts is noted as a candidate for the franchise tag in 2026: “TE Kyle Pitts is a candidate for the franchise tag in 2026, an option for the franchise to essentially tender him for a year while they figure out if a long-term extension can be met without the pressure of Pitts going to the open market.” According to Spotrac, this offseason’s franchise tag cost for a tight end exceeds $16 million. The Falcons have used this designation only three times previously: punter Michael Koenen (2009), cornerback Brent Grimes (2012), and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (2019). A decision about tagging Pitts must be made by March 3.
Other significant contributors who could reach free agency include running back Tyler Allgeier and inside linebacker Kaden Elliss. Allgeier reached over 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie before sharing duties with Bijan Robinson but remains an important part of Atlanta’s backfield. The organization’s decision on Allgeier could influence future roster moves through either drafting or signing another running back.
Elliss has played a key role on defense since joining Atlanta: “Just this past year, Elliss finished second in the league among linebackers with 30 pressures and was one of two players in the NFL (Tyrel Dodson) with 100-plus tackles, 10-plus tackles for loss, 3.5-plus sacks and an interception in 2025.” He continues as an essential member of Atlanta’s defense.
The kicking game was under scrutiny during the previous season as three different kickers were tried before Zane Gonzalez finished out the season—earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors late in 2025. The team may consider re-signing him along with punter Bradley Pinion—who led the NFL in punts inside opponents’ twenty-yard line—and special teams contributor Josh Woods.
Restricted free agents are players with three accrued seasons whose original team can offer qualifying offers that grant right of first refusal or draft-pick compensation if another team makes an offer.
Exclusive rights free agents are those with fewer than three accrued seasons; if offered a one-year contract at league minimum by their current team, they cannot negotiate elsewhere.
The Atlanta Falcons play in Atlanta, Georgia as part of the National Football League’s NFC South Division. Founded as an expansion team in 1965, they have appeared in Super Bowls in both 1998 and again in 2016. Their mascot is Freddie the Falcon (official website).
