The Falcons have now inked rookie deals with every member of the 2023 draft class, with Matthew Bergeron being the last to sign.
The club traded a second and third-round pick to select the Syracuse product with the 38th overall pick. His contract is estimated to have a total value of nearly $9 million with a cap hit of $1.63 million, according to OverTheCap.com.
A collegiate tackle, Bergeron is expected to assume the starting left guard role but will battle Matt Hennessy for the job. It’s not an easy task to switch positions in the NFL, and he’s quickly realized that.
“It’s definitely faster,” Bergeron said. “Everything happens, everything is on top of you. When you’re at tackle, in pass set you’ve got maybe three kicks before things start happening. At guard, everything is happening right now. Guys take one step and they are on you. You have to be faster with our hands and faster with your feet. It’s definitely an adjustment.”
Though it may prove difficult, the position switch is something the Falcons believe is viable, given Bergeron’s skill set.
“It’s the way he is built,” head coach Arthur Smith said of the reason for moving Bergeron inside to guard. “Everybody has different philosophies in what they’re looking for in offensive linemen. And some people get so rigid on schemes or whatever it is, their cup of tea that they’re looking for with o-linemen. But when a guy is as smart as Matt and the way he has played, really for us (it’s) the vision of the way he is built.”
Congratulations to Matthew Bergeron on this life changing moment and to the Falcons on locking up the last piece of the 2023 draft class.
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Photographer: John Byrum/Icon Sportswire
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