Accidents cropped up at middle particularly, however for a slim majority of the season, the Falcons trotted out the identical beginning lineup in 2024 that they did in 2023. After years of rotating items at left guard and middle, that form of consistency was welcome, and it led to a different positive 12 months from this offensive line.
The group may elect to make it three years in a row for Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom, and Kaleb McGary, however circumstances could conspire in opposition to that. Dalman is a free agent, and McGary is now the blindside possibility for left-handed quarterback Michael Penix, with Matthews not fulfilling that position after spending over a decade doing so. There’s a non-zero likelihood that Dalman doesn’t come again, or the group elects to maneuver on from a deal with.
That is still to be seen, although. Let’s have a look again at how this line fared in 2024.
Left deal with Jake Matthews
Age: 32 | Expertise: 11 seasons
2024 Stats: 17 begins, 5 sacks allowed, 30 pressures, 8 penalties, 85.4 Professional Soccer Focus go blocking grade, 70.1 run blocking grade
In the event you go by PFF’s metrics, this was Matthews’ greatest season since 2018. Scratching previous these, Matthews was penalized extra incessantly than in any season since 2016 and allowed 5 sacks, which tied final 12 months’s complete. However regardless of the small nook of the fanbase that has had antipathy for him principally since he was drafted, Matthews was an excellent beginning deal with in 2024, to not point out an absurdly sturdy one but once more.
The franchise report holder for many consecutive video games performed and the participant in seventh place when it comes to video games performed total, Matthews was sturdier as a run blocking presence in Zac Robinson’s scheme and was usually one of many ten or so greatest tackles within the NFL when it comes to go safety. The Professional Bowls and recognition haven’t been there for a participant who has been good for over a decade, however Matthews delivered one more high quality season for the Falcons and exhibits little or no signal of slowing down.
The query for Matthews heading into 2025 is whether or not the Falcons prioritize preserving him round provided that he’s not defending his quarterback’s blind facet; I’ve to assume his reliability and the significance the group locations on their line means he’ll return for at the very least this coming season.
Left guard Matthew Bergeron
Age: 24 | Expertise: 2 seasons
2024 Stats: 17 begins, 3 sacks allowed, 33 pressures, 12 penalties, 68.5 Professional Soccer Focus go blocking grade, 73.1 run blocking grade
After an uneven rookie season, Bergeron was an improved participant in 2024, albeit one who was penalized extra incessantly than we’d like. The Falcons have been attempting to settle the place since Wes Schweitzer left post-2019 season, and Bergeron’s enchancment this previous 12 months signifies he’s the long-term answer. His work in run blocking was fairly good all 12 months lengthy, and the go safety is coming alongside properly after Bergeron allowed double the variety of sacks a 12 months in the past.
There’s nonetheless work to be completed if Bergeron goes to be thought of a high-end starter—we’d prefer to see these strain numbers come down and we’d definitely like to chop the expensive penalties within the purple zone—however critically he was not a weak hyperlink the best way he was at occasions in his rookie 12 months, and is a top quality left guard who’s younger and reasonably priced. That makes him a vastly priceless participant for the Falcons going ahead, and in the identical manner I anticipated (and obtained) enchancment in 2024, I anticipate a step ahead in 2025.
Middle Drew Dalman
Age: 26 | Expertise: 4 seasons
2024 Stats: 9 begins, 2 sacks allowed, 10 pressures, 3 penalties, 66.6 Professional Soccer Focus go blocking grade, 79.8 run blocking grade
Dalman solely appeared in 9 video games owing to damage this previous season, however he was his customary self when he did play. The go safety was a bit extra strong than ordinary in a small pattern dimension and his run blocking was among the many best possible within the league for the middle place. There have been, additionally as at all times, a few wonky snaps.
Due to the outsized significance of Atlanta’s floor recreation and the group’s reliance on exterior zone, Dalman’s acumen and motion abilities matter to this group an awesome deal. In the event that they have been to closely tweak that run scheme and/or place extra significance on go safety from middle, Dalman’s significance would possibly diminish.
That’s not a small query proper now, with the group getting ready to start out life with Penix below middle and Dalman about to hit free company, the place a handful of center-needy groups is likely to be ready to throw an enormous bag of cash at him. The Falcons must determine in the event that they wish to pay Dalman like the most effective facilities in soccer, and whether or not they accomplish that seemingly will depend on what they assume they’ll worth from the place over the subsequent three-to-four years.
Middle Ryan Neuzil
Age: 27 | Expertise: 3 seasons
2024 Stats: 8 begins, 1 sack allowed, 10 pressures, 7 penalties, 63.6 Professional Soccer Focus go blocking grade, 60.5 run blocking grade
Requested to fill in for about half the season, Neuzil was strong however unspectacular because the group’s middle, which is fairly terrific for a former undrafted free agent who made the shift over from guard. Neuzil presents this group related go safety talents to Dalman—which is to say, first rate—however was penalized incessantly in 2024 and isn’t even in the identical league when it comes to his run blocking acumen. On steadiness, for a participant being thrust right into a tough position, Neuzil held down the fort properly.
A restricted free agent, Neuzil must be a precedence re-signing for Atlanta whether or not they convey again Dalman or not, as he can play guard or middle and is a strong possibility for both spot at a possible reasonably priced value level. I wouldn’t decide to him because the starter if Dalman doesn’t come again, however as depth he’s an especially helpful piece who has now proven in a number of beginning stints that he can step in if known as upon and acquit himself fairly properly as a starter.
Proper guard Chris Lindstrom
Age: 27 | Expertise: 6 seasons
2024 Stats: 17 begins, 1 sack allowed, 31 pressures, 8 penalties, 68.0 Professional Soccer Focus go blocking grade, 94.6 run blocking grade
There simply isn’t a greater run-blocking guard in soccer than Lindstrom, who bulldozes folks. Working behind Lindstrom is a cheat code.
The go safety grade lags behind the final couple of years, which is smart provided that Lindstrom was “credited” with giving up extra pressures by far than the final two years. I’ll defend him (and actually the entire line) by noting that Kirk Cousins couldn’t escape a slowly toppling statue on a scooter in 2024, however clearly we’ll hope that quantity comes manner down in 2024.
Make no mistake, although: Lindstrom is among the greatest guards in soccer and has a reputable case as the very best, and he’s contemporary off one other terrific season that was completely important to Bijan Robinson’s massive breakout.
Proper deal with Kaleb McGary
Age: 29 | Expertise: 6 seasons
2024 Stats: 16 begins, 6 sacks allowed, 32 pressures, 3 penalties, 63.8 Professional Soccer Focus go blocking grade, 77.8 run blocking grade
McGary just isn’t nice in go safety, however he’s not the huge legal responsibility he was earlier in his profession, both. That enchancment and his at all times high quality run blocking ensures that he’s a way more helpful starter than he’s given credit score for being, and he was in 2024. Working to maintain an motionless Kirk Cousins secure after which serving as Michael Penix’s blind facet protector, he did an admirable job up till an implosion in opposition to Carolina to finish the 12 months, and was integral to the group’s skill to run to the correct facet with impunity.
McGary could be very almost 30 and could have an enormous job in 2024 preserving Penix secure, however changing tackles could be very not often simple and the veteran has completed a adequate job to carry down the fort in 2025 if the Falcons are inclined to maintain him. After the previous couple of seasons, I’ve to assume they’re.
Sort out Storm Norton
Age: 30 | Expertise: 8 seasons
2024 Stats: 1 begin, 0 sacks allowed, 3 pressures, 0 penalties, 50.8 Professional Soccer Focus go blocking grade, 67.1 run blocking grade
Norton continues to be a strong fill-in swing deal with possibility. He struggled in opposition to the Saints in his lone begin, however we all know by now that he’s able to beginning for McGary particularly for the one or two video games he tends to overlook per 12 months and do strong work. On condition that he’s low-cost, dependable, and acquainted with the workers, he should return once more in 2025.
Guard Kyle Hinton
Age: 26 | Expertise: 5 seasons
2024 Stats: 0 begins, 0 sacks allowed, 4 pressures, 1 penalty, 32.4 Professional Soccer Focus go blocking grade, 69.6 run blocking grade
Like Norton, Hinton is flexible and pretty dependable. He had a tough fill-in stint in opposition to the Seahawks at left guard and scuffled a bit in a quick look at proper guard in opposition to the Broncos, however fared significantly better at RG in opposition to the Buccaneers and Giants when known as upon. Additionally like Norton, the truth that he’s reasonably priced and acquainted seemingly means he’ll return, even when his go safety scuffles in 2024 remind us that the group may search out an improve.
Middle Matt Hennessy
Age: 27 | Expertise: 5 seasons
2024 Stats: 0 begins, 0 sacks allowed, 0 pressures, 0 penalties, 70.7 Professional Soccer Focus go blocking grade, 60.4 run blocking grade
Hennessy briefly returned to drag down 13 snaps in reduction of Ryan Neuzil in opposition to the Seahawks and Cowboys and fared simply positive; he completed the season with the 49ers. If Jovaughn Gwyn is able to be the group’s third middle possibility in 2025, then there’s no must convey Hennessy again, however in any other case he’d be a positive, low-cost choice to fill that position.
Sort out Elijah Wilkinson
Age: 29 | Expertise: 8 seasons
2024 Stats: 0 begins, 0 sacks allowed, 0 pressures, 0 penalties, 60.0 run blocking grade
He took one snap at proper deal with, however was one other acquainted face known as upon to leap in.
