Projected Falcons TE1. Penix is the quarterback.
Pitts' profile matches boot/PA more than a pure spread. Career-fit for Bijan Robinson (mostly zone in his career).
- ADP
- 9.06 (102.4)
- Target
- 9.03
- Move
- +3
- As of
- 2026-08-25
What changed
8 real changes. The rest held.
Quarterback
Was Kirk Cousins / Michael Penix Jr.
Now Penix is the lead; Tua Tagovailoa signed as competition/insurance
Penix was recovering into camp. Tua is a live cloud, not a locked backup.
Play caller
Was 2025 Falcons staff
Now OC Tommy Rees calls; Stefanski delegates
Stefanski is a run-first HC; Rees has the script.
Head coach
Was Raheem Morris
Now Kevin Stefanski (hired 2026)
Stefanski offenses live on zone run and play-action. Robinson is the lead back.
Scheme & pace
Was 2025 ~56% pass
Now Zone-heavy run, projected ~54% pass / 46% run
Career-fit for Bijan Robinson (mostly zone in his career).
Pass blocking
Was Matthews–Bergeron–Neuzil–Lindstrom–McGary
Now LT Jake Matthews, LG Matthew Bergeron, C Ryan Neuzil, RG Chris Lindstrom, RT Jawaan Taylor (signed after McGary retired; elbow, not cleared)
80% snap continuity. Taylor's elbow is the RT variable, not the coordinator.
Pass catchers
Was London / Pitts / Cousins-era
Now Penix remains the starter; run tilt may trim targets
Target volume is the risk if the run game hits.
Tight end
Was Kyle Pitts in mixed usage
Now Play-action TE seams are a Stefanski staple
Pitts' profile matches boot/PA more than a pure spread.
Backfield
Was Bijan Robinson workhorse
Now Bijan Robinson remains the lead; Brian Robinson Jr. is the committee
Scheme is a clear upgrade for Bijan Robinson.
Continuity
Run blocking
Was Same core; McGary at RT
Now Lindstrom still the interior anchor; Taylor not practicing yet
Run-block talent is intact. Wait on Taylor before calling RT an upgrade.
Team environment
Was Morris 16-18
Now Stefanski year one, still a competitive NFC South
Not a tank, not a Super Bowl favorite.
Vacated volume
- Targets
- —
- Carries
- —
- Red zone
- —
- Air yards
- —
No high-confidence vacated-volume number published. Role change matters more than a target count.
Competition added
No meaningful new competition sourced.
This player
- Projected role
- Projected Falcons TE1. Penix is the quarterback.
- Usage
- Pass-game tight end. Penix is the quarterback.
- Injury
- No Week 1 absence reported as of August 20, 2026.
- Contract
- Not flagged as a 2026 hold-in.
- Camp
- Training camp underway as of August 2026. Week 1 is September.
Upside
Pitts' profile matches boot/PA more than a pure spread. Career-fit for Bijan Robinson (mostly zone in his career).
Downside
Camp could still change the job before Week 1.
Risks
- New head coach: Stefanski offenses live on zone run and play-action. Robinson is the lead back.low
Sources
No source URLs were returned with this brief.
Notes come from the 2026 coaching and roster board (team sites, NFL.com, ESPN, The Athletic). Hold is the default when ADP already has the news.