The Falcons will not exercise the fifth-year option on tight end Hayden Hurst (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler). Hurst, a 2018 draft pick of the Ravens, is now on track for free agency in 2022. 
The Falcons traded for Hurst last spring just after Austin Hooper left in free agency. In exchange, the Falcons sent second and fifth round picks to Baltimore while receiving a fourth-round pick along with Hurst.
Hurst immediately took a backseat to Mark Andrews — a third-rounder — in 2018. He missed the early part of his rookie season with a stress fracture in his foot and the injury nagged him even after his return. Hurst ended up catching only 13 passes for 163 yards that year. In 2019, he fared a bit better — 30 catches for 349 yards and two touchdowns.
This past year, the South Carolina product had the best statistical season of his career with 56 grabs for 571 yards and six scores, However, the Falcons are now set to install Kyle Pitts as their top TE, making Hurst expendable.
Had they picked up his option, Hurst would have made $5.428MM in 2022.
Pretty easy decision.
Of course, a 27 year old, former first round pick, that you gave up a 2nd for, entering his prime, coming off a career year, is a guy the Falcons don’t want to keep around. Makes perfect sense. Especially considering how much I heard about the two tight end sets AS likes to run. I am convinced TF is only in ATL to sabotage the franchise. He’s probably still collecting checks from the Saints. But maybe we can draft a TE even higher next year.
u want to pay hurst, a middle of the pack te who topped 500 yards for the first time in his career this season, top of the line money? this doesnt mean he wont be extended it just means they wont be paying him as a top 10 te
Exactly. He is also the #2 TE for the Falcons. You don’t pay top dollar for #2. They may renegotiate that contract to a more reasonable price now.
$5.428 million would be the 14th highest cap hit among tight ends in 2022, per OTC, but after free agent signings, it would probably fall below its 2021 ranking of 18th. That’s starter money, but hardly “top dollar” or “top of the line money.”
From a cap management perspective, it’s an understandable move. And if they think they can find or develop a cheaper blocking tight end in two years, then it makes sense, too. But if they want to run two-TE sets on a fairly consistent basis, and with two legit passing targets, then it’s questionable.
5 mil is “top dollar” gimme a break. He put up better numbers than Hooper and falcons fans wanted to give him 10 mil a year.
They just drafted pitts….pitts is a generational talent at tight end. Why waste funds to roster 2 expensive te? My guess is falcons will trade Julio next and turn keys over to pitts and Ridley
The difference between the two is that Hirst is a very good blocker and Pitts is essentially a WR. They may want to bring Hurst back but for a team who just hired a coach known for his rushing attack, it wouldn’t be bad to retain a good blocker as the number two tight end. I agree that Hurst might be had for less money, but I don’t think it would be too much less.
Wouldn’t it have made more sense to extend Hurst, feature him in a few games and then trade him away early in the season, under contract for two years?
New regime
That 5.4 million can be used in some other capacity. I know it is not the most ideal situation for Hurst or the fans. The business sides of things though, it does make sense after using your #4 pick on Pitts.