The Atlanta Falcons attempted to rebuild their offensive line during the 2019 offseason. Despite some failures with free agents, the team selected guard Chris Lindstrom and offensive tackle Kaleb McGary in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and both players have developed well.
Lindstrom has really shined in recent years, earning two All-Pro second-team honors and making two Pro Bowl appearances. The former Boston College standout signed a five-year, $105 million contract extension with the team in 2023.
While the Falcons believed in Lindstrom so much that they made him one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the league, what does the rest of the NFL think? Lindstrom received high praise from coaches and scouts in a new post by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
A group of league executives ranked Lindstrom as the second-best offensive lineman in the NFL entering 2024:
“As a run blocker, he’s a little better off the field,” said an NFL defensive line coach. “I’d probably put him up against anyone there. And as a pass blocker, he’s improved enough that he’s solid there.”
While other stars age or fade, Lindstrom benefited from a weaker field to move up six spots from last year. Although he did not appear on every ballot, his share of the top two places (44%) was impressive.
“He has been our number 1 for several years,” said an AFC manager. An NFC executive added: “He was paid well because the team had to take care of him — there’s nothing really negative about that, but in my opinion he’s just not elite.” – ESPN
There’s no denying Lindstrom’s dominance as a run blocker, but he’s improved significantly as a pass blocker since entering the league in 2019. At this point, it’s hard to fault Lindstrom’s game.
The consistency he shows each week has helped the team develop an identity behind a dominant running attack, and the Falcons hope that signing Kirk Cousins in 2024 will pay off with a more balanced offensive unit.
