Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Jake Matthews gets a two-year, $45 million extension.
Having started 162 games since 2014, Jake Matthews has agreed to a contract extension, clearing cap space for free agency. Atlanta's projected savings by extending Matthews is around $11.3 million, giving Atlanta around $5 million more to play with, as Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported.
This is the first move the Falcons have made during the 2025 free agency period. The running back room in Atlanta hasn't necessarily fielded any question marks as other positions have over the last few months.
The Falcons prioritized keeping quarterback Michael Penix Jr. clean in the pocket and their running backs on the healthy side of the injury report. Jake Matthews has been one of the best at his offensive line position since he was drafted into the NFL.
All Matthews has done is be as consistent as possible. He has become the franchise's all-time leader in consecutive games played and is the only active NFL player to have played in every single game since 2015.
Given that his dad Bruce has the fifth-longest consecutive start streak in league history, it seems fitting that Matthews is currently working on a significant streak of his own.
It is unknown how much longer Matthews will play at such a high level, but he has certainly graded above average in every game since an injury-filled rookie season.
More moves will be made in the coming weeks, but signing an extension with someone of Matthews' caliber who is always available sends a great message to fans as Atlanta navigates a crucial offseason full of decisions.
Related: Should The Falcons Trade The 15th Pick In The NFL Draft?
Related: Joey Bosa May Not Be The Answer The Falcons Are Searching For
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM.