Atlanta Falcons 2021 offseason expectations: O-Line

The Atlanta Falcons have some pieces but need to upgrade in the trenches

The Atlanta Falcons under the previous regime were constantly spending big, both in FA and the Draft to upgrade the offensive line. In 2019 Jamon Brown and James Carpenter were brought in with hefty contracts to attempt to solidify the interior of the line.

That same off-season the Falcons used two first-round picks on guard Chris Lindstrom and tackle Kaleb McGary.

Jamon Brown lasted one season and only played in 10 games with nine starts. Carpenter, who has been fine, is not a long-term option at the left guard position. The Falcons will need to be aggressive in 2021 to upgrade this unit.

As a team, they finished 16th and 28th in pass block and run block win rates.

Current Roster

Jake Mathers, Kaleb McGary, James Carpenter, Chris Lindstrom, Matt Hennessy, Willie Wright

The Atlanta Falcons have several entrenched starts on this line that will carry over to the 2021 season. Jake Mathews has been rock solid at LT for most of his career and is largely underappreciated.

At 29 years old he is getting towards the back end of his truly prime years but he undoubtedly has a few good years left in him and has been durable, he’s missed only one game and that was his rookie season.

At the other tackle spot, Kaleb McGary will be entering his third season.

McGary has been up and down in his first two years but has been mostly reliable. If he takes the year three leap he should be a solid option at RT for years to come.

Chris Lindstrom has looked every bit like the first-round pick he was. His rookie season was cut short, only playing in 5 games, due to injury. However, he was fully healthy for 2020 and looks the part. Entering his third season he looks to be one of the better guards the Falcons have had for a while.

If he continues his developmental arc expect him to be in the conversation with the top guards in the league.

James Carpenter is not the answer at LG for the Atlanta Falcons.

With the cap being what it is this offseason Carpenter should be among the cuts the team makes as it will create just over five million in cap space with a post-June 1st designation. Left guard is the biggest question mark on the offensive side of the ball headed into the off-season.

Second-year man Matt Hennessey will be taking over at center from Alex Mack.

Mack is hitting free agency and while there was initially speculation that he would retire he has since expressed interest in continuing his career, don’t expect that to be in a Falcons uniform though.

Hennessy was a third-round pick and played in limited action in 2020 starting in two games at the end of a year replacing an injured Mack. He looked about how you would expect a rookie third-rounder to look on a team whose season was already over.

If he takes a year two leap he should at worse be an average starter.