Analysis
3/13/23
2 min read
Report: Falcons, Chris Lindstrom Agree to 5-Year, $105M Extension
Moments before the start of the free agency "legal tampering" period on Monday, the Atlanta Falcons agreed to bring back one of their better offensive pieces for the long haul.
The Falcons have agreed to a five-year, $105 million contract extension with guard Chris Lindstrom, ESPN reported. The Falcons selected Lindstrom in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft from Boston College, and he quickly became a stalwart up front.
Lindstrom has played at least 980 snaps in the past three seasons while making 55 starts for his career. His performance this past season was good enough to earn him his first Pro Bowl selection.
Although the Falcons struggled to throw the ball in 2022, Lindstrom was at least part of why they were so dominant on the ground. Atlanta's offense finished third in total rushing yards and rushing yards per game last season.
However, who Lindstrom will end up protecting this season is still up in the air. The team likely will consider 2021 third-round pick Desmond Ridder for the starting job, but Atlanta has the eighth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, giving them a chance to select a top-ranked passer.
Another piece of Atlanta's offensive line, right tackle Kaleb McGary, is a free agent after the Falcons decided not to use the franchise tag on him.
