3. Jake Matthews is the third-largest Atlanta cap hit at $23.6-million and the only lineman Matt Ryan can count on
How badly would this season have gone if not for Jake Matthews? Lost in the mess that is the Atlanta Falcons offensive line is the fact that Matthews continues to be great for a team that desperately needs offensive line help.
At the top of the Atlanta Falcons wishlist, this off-season is an offensive lineman that can at least slow incoming pass rushers. There have been many times this season that it appears the middle of the Falcons line is doing nothing more than directing the pass rushers right in Matt Ryan’s lap.
Somehow through it, all Matt Ryan has remained healthy and that is in part due to Jake Matthews doing his job. In a rough group, Matthews deserves a lot of credit for consistently doing his job and being one of the few capable blockers on Atlanta’s roster.
Matthews isn’t a player Atlanta should have any thought on moving on from but building around in hopes of keeping Ryan upright in 2022. The left tackle is still only 30-years old and should still have prime seasons left for Atlanta to build around.