The Falcons are going to be in an interesting spot with their offensive line in 2023. For starters, the unit as a whole was much better in 2022 than they have been in almost a decade. Kaleb McGary had a breakout year, but the Falcons turned down his fifth-year option and he will be hitting free agency at 28 years old. Chris Lindstrom is arguably the best offensive lineman in football, and Jake Matthews isn’t going anywhere. That leaves center and left guard. Elijah Wilkinson and Drew Dalman have been fine players, but the Falcons could still look for upgrades this offseason. This is a series, so previous editions are listed below:
- Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Quarterback
- Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Running Backs
- Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Wide Receivers
- Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Tight Ends
One Free Agent: Nate Davis
Arthur Smith has some familiarity with Davis from his time in Tennessee, so scheme fit shouldn’t be an issue. Davis is probably the best guard on the market, and he would create a fantastic tandem alongside Chris Lindstrom. At only 26 years old, I wouldn’t mind giving Davis a big deal to really beef up this offensive line.
One Draft Pick: Sedrick Van Pran
After going with a guard in free agency, I’ll pivot to center. I’ve seen a lot of Van Pran in my time at Georgia, and he’s a plug-and-play option at center if the Falcons decide to move on from Drew Dalman for some reason. I think Dalman played well enough to secure a spot in 2023, but Van Pran is a really solid developmental option at the position. He’ll be a 30 game starter in the SEC by the time he hits the draft.
One Trade: David Andrews
I wanted the Falcons to sign Andrews last offseason, but he inked a big extension with the Patriots. We’ve seen New England ship off key players before to save money, so perhaps the Falcons could take on Andrews and his contract. Andrews is still playing at a very high level, so it wouldn’t be a cheap acquisition. There isn’t too much in terms of center on the free agent market. I would be open to this type of deal if Dalman isn’t the future for the Falcons.
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Photographer:Â Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
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