Breaking down the Falcons tight end transformation in 2024

Tight end was perhaps the prized position in Arthur Smith’s offense, with the team sinking the fourth overall pick into Kyle Pitts and significant investments via trades and signings in the rest of the depth chart. The running gag about the Falcons never having enough tight ends during the Smith era had a real ring of truth to it, and it led to red zone targets for MyCole Pruitt depressingly being one of the team’s better cards to play at times.

With a new coaching staff in town, the tight end position’s usage and importance will likely warp drastically. Gone are the days of four tight ends on the roster—I expect, anyways—and a role for three of them. This Falcons team is going to heavily utilize Pitts, lean on Charlie Woerner as a key blocker, and likely use whoever makes the team as a third option primarily as a special teamer.

To put things in a bit of perspective, five Falcons tight ends caught passes last year, and the position finished with 114 receptions from tight ends. The Rams, meanwhile, had three tight ends catch a combined 62 passes. Pitts will ensure the team dramatically exceeds the latter number, in all likelihood, but two tight end sets will be less prominently featured in this offense.

Let’s talk a little more about what’s new here.

How tight end has changed

Gone are...

/deep breath

...Jonnu Smith, MyCole Pruitt, Parker Hesse, Feleipe Franks, and Tucker Fisk. Now entering the picture are Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley, and undrafted free agent Austin Stogner. The only holdovers on this depth chart and practice squad are Pitts and John FitzPatrick.

That’s a considerable amount of turnover, reflective of a new coaching staff that has different priorities than Smith. Atlanta went out and snagged not just a new #2 receiver in Darnell Mooney but also a likely #3 in Rondale Moore, and their complete lack of pass-catching tight end options outside of Pitts tells you most of the depth chart will be focused on blocking and special teams value. The tight end position will still be important, but its importance in the passing game in particular will likely be de-emphasized.

Pitts, however, will hopefully enjoy a larger role. As the only compelling pass-catching option on the roster at tight end, as well as a potential chess piece because he has a history of lining up out wide and in the slot, Pitts should get plenty of run with an accurate quarterback willing to utilize him. That plus good health should mean increased production for a player itching for a breakout season, while Woerner paves the way for Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.

It’ll be a very different feel for this team than we’ve been used to over the past few years, but if the narrower focus leads to Pitts and Woerner being productive in their respective roles, it should mean good things for this offense.

Key additions

• Charlie Woerner: As mentioned multiple times above, Woerner is here to block, and that’s what he’s going to do. Expect plenty of early down work as the team tries to move Pitts around and hunt for favorable matchups, and if Woerner is worth his salt it should help this ground game a lot. With no true fullback on the roster at the moment, expect Woerner to get some work there, as well.
• Ross Dwelley: Another 49ers tight end on the way, Dwelley offers a little bit of pass catching acumen, an uninspiring but lengthy history as a run blocker, and some special teams value, as well as a reputation as a quality locker room presence. He’ll be in a dogfight with John FitzPatrick for the third tight end spot, and given that the new staff has imported him, he’s likely the favorite.