Vanderbilt tight end Jared Pinkney signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons, according to a Tweet from Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason.

Atlanta drafted six players in the 2020 NFL Draft, none were tight ends or at offensive skill positions. The Falcons currently have four tight ends on their roster, including Hayden Hurst (30 catches, 349 yards, 2 TD's), Khari Lee (played in the XFL), Carson Meier (no stats), and Jaeden Graham (9 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD). They also signed Utah State tight end Caleb Repp to an undrafted free agent deal.

ESPN listed Pinkney as the eighth-best un-drafted player in the 2020 draft class.

Pinkney played a strong role in Vandy's offense in 2016, starting six of 13 games played while recording 22 receptions, 274 yards, 12.5 average, two touchdowns.

He started nine of 12 contests the following year (22 receptions, 279 yards, 12.7 average, three touchdowns) and then became one of the top tight ends in the SEC

As a junior, he became one of the top tight ends in the Southeastern Conference. Grabbing 50 passes for 774 yards and seven scores in 13 starts.

The team's offensive struggles made it difficult for Pinkney, a preseason All-American, to duplicate those numbers during his senior season. Pinkney only tallied 20 receptions for 233 yards and just two touchdowns in 11 starts. He missed his final game with a wrist injury suffered in practice.