Matthew Bergeron and Chris Lindstrom will be the best guard duo in the NFL

Among the positions favored by NFL teams, offensive guard is rarely placed at the top of the list. The Atlanta Falcons, if only through capital investment, are bucking this trend.

On March 13, 2023, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot signed right guard Chris Lindstrom to a five-year extension worth $105 million, making Lindstrom the highest-paid guard in NFL history. the league.

A month and a half later, Fontenot and the Falcons traded up six spots at 38th overall in the second round of the NFL draft, selecting Syracuse offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron, who played tackle in college but moved on at left guard as a professional.

So when Atlanta took the field for its season opener on September 10, it did so with a pair of coveted guards — and Fontenot, reflecting on the seasons put together by Lindstrom and Bergeron, thinks the Falcons have a chance to line up a special duo inside. .

“Bergeron started every game last year and I truly believe that if he continues to advance, you will have the best guard combination in the league with him and Chris,” Fontenot said on April 26. trust these guys.

Lindstrom’s resume speaks for itself; in each of the last two years, he was named a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro.

But Bergeron’s book is still being written.

The 24-year-old from Victoriaville, Canada, has established himself as a vital part of Atlanta’s offense, playing more snaps – 1,139 – than any other member of the unit.

Bergeron’s first 10 games were up and down, as he allowed 21 total pressures, six quarterback hits and four sacks while being called for three penalties, according to Pro Football Focus.

But after the Falcons’ bye week, the 6-foot-5, 323-pounder played, allowing just 12 pressures, two hits, a pair of sacks and earning just one penalty.

For the season, Bergeron allowed 33 pressures on 632 pass blocks, giving his opponents a pressure rate of just 5.2%.

Bergeron enters his sophomore season with a solid foundation to build on, sparked by continuity in his room, as all five starters return along with offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford.

There’s a new face at the top, with Raheem Morris replacing Arthur Smith as head coach, but Bergeron’s film from last year made an immediate impression on Morris.

“Bergeron is a very good football player and to see him play last year as a rookie, it’s a tough thing to do,” Morris said. “It’s tough to go from college to playing inside line or inside the ball and be ready and mature and developed enough to do those things. So it’s a high-quality pick.

Zac Robinson, Atlanta’s new offensive coordinator, came with Morris from the Los Angeles Rams, where the offense shifted from zone-heavy to more gaps and duo blocks.

Bergeron has the size and athleticism to fit either role, as does Lindstrom. The Falcons appear poised to run a potent downhill rushing attack with Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Jase McClellan each eclipsing 210 pounds.

So the interior of Atlanta’s offensive line — Lindstrom, Bergeron and center Drew Dalman — appears particularly vital to maintaining the success of a rushing attack that has ranked in the top 10 the past two years.

But Fontenot is confident… especially if Bergeron takes the next step. And with the tools and records he’s seen over the past calendar year, Atlanta’s fourth-year GM feels vindicated in his beliefs.

“His tools, his abilities and everything he did last year, we know he’s going to take a step forward and continue to improve his fundamentals,” Fontenot said. “He’s a great athlete and we’re very excited about him.”