Dalton Kincaid next contract directly impacted by Kyle Pitts’ new deal
· Yahoo Sports
The Atlanta Falcons have extended star tight end Kyle Pitts with a new three-year contract, and it very well could have a direct impact on the next deal for Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid.
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ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first on the Pitts news and had the ever-important financial details:
ESPN sources: TE Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons reached agreement today on a three-year, $54 million contract that includes $36 million fully guaranteed. It is the largest three-year contract for a tight end in NFL history. David Mulugheta of Athletes First and Andre Odom… pic.twitter.com/PYEEMRs8xa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 23, 2026
This contract is no joke — it’s not loaded with funny money — as the $36 million in full guarantees represent the highest figure at the tight end position, eclipsing George Kittle by $1 million.
While average per year (APY) can often lead to incorrect conclusions about a contract in the NFL, it is a measure by which deals are often compared in this league. And the $18 million APY in Pitts’ new deal is the third-highest at tight end beyond Kittle ($19.1 million) and Trey McBride at $19 million.
To date, Pitts has averaged 98 targets, 62 receptions, 780 yards, and three touchdowns per a 17-game season with the Falcons. He set career highs across the board with 88 snags, 928 yards, and five receiving scores in 2025.
What Kyle Pitts’ deal means for Dalton Kincaid
What readers of Buffalo Rumblings are likely most curious about is how Pitts’ deal impacts Kincaid’s next contract, whether with One Bills Drive or elsewhere. The first order of business is to compare availability, and the contract in games played between Pitts and Kincaid. Aside from the fact that Pitts has two more years of NFL production (entering year six) to the younger Kincaid (entering year four), what stands out is how durable Pitts has proven during most of his career.
Apart from the 2022 NFL season where he played in just 10 games, Pitts appeared in every game for the Falcons in 2021, later repeating the feat from 2023 through 2025 — starting a total of 72 of 78 games played. In contrast, Kincaid has missed 10 games in three seasons, starting 24 of 41 games played since 2023.
But how do Pitts and Kincaid compare when just looking at numbers? Kincaid is close, with his 17-game averages as follows: 89 targets, 65 catches, 702 yards and four scores per season. Keep in mind, however, that there are a few key items affecting Kincaid’s stats. First is the presence of quarterback Josh Allen, and second is the presence of co-starting tight end Dawson Knox.
That said, Kincaid has often served as the de facto “pass-catcher 1” in Buffalo’s offense, similar to how Pitts operates in Atlanta even with wide receiver Drake London catching plenty of attention. The Bills were wise to pick up Kincaid’s fifth-year option this past April, rather than risk losing their first-round investment during next year’s free agency period and before he’s had a real chance to show all he can bring to the offense.
However, the nagging knee injury has plagued two consecutive campaigns for Kincaid now, but not to the extent that he needed surgery to repair anything. Instead, it’s been a matter of load management for Kincaid, which has limited his availability in practice and during games.
Earlier this offseason, there were some encouraging signs, such as when video showed Kincaid confidently anchoring one half of a tug-o-war with his Bills teammates.
Does a Pitts-like deal seem inevitable for Kincaid’s future, whether in Buffalo or elsewhere? Yes, and Kincaid’s inclusion in the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl Games will help his cause in the matter.
You can bet if he turns in a season that compares to his current 17-game averages, Kincaid and his agent would likely use the Pitts deal as framework when they get to the negotiation table with Bills brass.
However, that sit down doesn’t necessarily have to occur in the near future.
Pitts was drafted two years before Kincaid (and is two years younger). He was set to be Atlanta’s franchise-tagged player this season before this new contract with the Falcons was agreed upon. As mentioned above, Kincaid is entering his fourth year in the NFL — with a $4.2 million cap hit in 2026 — and the Bills have exercised his fifth-year option, which means he is set to represent a very manageable $8.2 million cap hit in 2027.
But now, with this Pitts deal, we all have parameters for what a second contract for Kincaid may very well look like if and when the Bills decide to extend him.