McGary is last piece needed for Atlanta Falcons to make history

The Atlanta Falcons could make NFL history at some point this season by starting five former first round picks on the offensive line.

No team in the storied history of the NFL has ever had five first round picks start on the offensive line in a game. With Jake Matthews, James Carpenter, Alex Mack and Chris Lindstrom all listed as starters on the Atlanta Falcons first depth chart of the season, they are 80 percent of the way there.

Kaleb McGary is the lone first round pick up front that is listed as a backup as the team gets ready to play in the Pro Football Hall of Game this Thursday night. However, McGary is closing in on listed starter Ty Sambrailo.

Coach Dan Quinn told the media after practice Monday that he like the fight that the 2019 NFL first rounder is showing.

"“Kaleb at tackle, I thought, really pushing Ty in a close fight, in a close battle. All the things that go on in the first install, he was able to handle very well, and that’s a testament to the work he put in over the summer to get right and to get ready.”“(He’s got) a lot to learn but I’m encouraged where he’s at, and I think he’s gaining momentum in his trust in what he’s doing.”"

McGary joined the Andy and Randy show on the Falcons flagship station Monday after practice and said he was happy with where he is at as he admitted that he got off to a rough start in rookie mini camp and did not adjust as quickly as he would have hoped.

"“I’m a little surprised with how well I’ve done up to this point to be perfectly honest. OTA’s was kind of rough for me. It wasn’t–there was a lot of stuff getting thrown at me at one time.”“I just didn’t perform as well as I’d wanted to, and I was a little bit nervous coming back. But I put him some good work in that little off-time we had…and it’s paid off because my transition has been much, much smoother since I’ve been back.”"

This is good to hear. There are already a faction of fans that hated the pick to begin with, should McGary struggle during the season, the boo birds will be out in force, forgetting that he is just a rookie and will need time to get his legs under him.

It definitely feels like Quinn expects McGary to overtake Sambrailo at some point this season, maybe even by week one. Having this fifth preseason game will help the younger guys such as McGary to make a smoother transition when the regular season gets here in six weeks.