FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Ryan Neuzil earned his role as a starter the hard way.
That's how fellow Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom described Neuzil's path to first-team center.
Lindstrom has plenty of reasons to make that observation. Neuzil joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2021, starting his journey on the practice squad and slowly adding responsibilities each year. Meanwhile, Lindstrom was a first-round draft pick who has only ever been a starter.
"Whatever was asked of him for four years, he always did it and got better every single day," Lindstrom said. "Then, every moment he got the chance to prove himself on the field, he did that."
Neuzil signed a two-year deal to remain in Atlanta shortly after the team began OTAs, a testament to the impression he's made on the franchise. It was an upgrade from the one-year contract that accompanied the right-of-first-refusal tender the Falcons originally placed on Neuzil as a restricted free agent. The two parties were able to negotiate something more for Neuzil.
Though pen did not hit paper until late May, the Falcons have been penciling Neuzil in as their starting center since Drew Dalman, last year's starting center, signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent in March. The confidence for that proclamation breeds from the eight starts Neuzil made when Dalman was injured last season.
"He played really, really well for us," Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford said. "I thought that he played at a high level. So, to me, that was great to be able to see him in that sample size."
Nothing replaces game reps. They're the most important and will ultimately carry the greatest amount of weight in player evaluations. Prior to last season, Neuzil's count was very limited compared to Dalman, a former fourth-round pick who established himself as the starter in 2022.