The Falcons didn’t wait around for Ryan Neuzil to sort itself out. They moved on, and that says plenty about where this offensive line stands right now.
Atlanta sent Neuzil to the Baltimore Ravens just before the NFL trade deadline, landing OG Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round pick in return. It was a deadline buzzer beater, but it also felt like a clear message: the Falcons were done trying to force a fit at center.
That decision comes after a season in which the interior line has fallen short of expectations. The run game hasn’t gotten the push it needs, and for all the money poured into the middle of the line, Bijan Robinson hasn’t exactly been handed easier work. Chris Lindstrom and Matthew Bergeron remain two of the league’s better guards, but the center spot has been the weak link.
Neuzil’s falloff made the move easy to see coming. After a strong first year as the starter following Drew Dalman’s departure last season, he’s slipped badly enough that Atlanta clearly didn’t view him as a long-term answer. Bad snaps and shaky play piled up, and the 29-year-old now joins the list of positions the Falcons need to address this offseason.
The numbers back up the decline. Per Pro Football Focus, Neuzil allowed seven pressures over his last five games, tied for fifth-most among centers.
He also gave up three pressures in the Week 9 loss to the Bengals. That stretch all but sealed his fate.
The trade also gives Bill Callahan a chance to shape the line more to his liking. He prefers bigger, more powerful blockers, and Neuzil never really fit that mold.
Now Atlanta can move forward with Corey Levin at center, even though he has only seven games of starting experience. That alone makes it hard to imagine the Falcons not shopping for center help this offseason.
Vorhees brings a different kind of body type to the mix. He’s 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, and he started 17 games last year. He could end up as a long-term piece on the line, and there’s even a chance he works at center once he learns the system.
There are other possibilities, too. Bergeron could slide back to left tackle, the spot he played at Syracuse, with Vorhees or Kyle Hinton taking over at left guard. That wouldn’t be out of the question, especially with Jake Matthews looking like he doesn’t have much left in the tank.
Then there’s the stranger idea: Matthews at center. With Bergeron at left tackle, the Falcons could try to squeeze more out of Matthews by moving him inside, where his quickness might play better than it does on the edge.
He’s slow for a tackle and often gets beat off the edge, but the thought is that he might have above-average quickness for a center. Atlanta has to pay him anyway, so the argument is simple enough: get something out of it.
However they line it up, the bigger picture is obvious. The Falcons are going to need help across the offensive line, both in free agency and in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The Neuzil trade made that plain. Ian Cunningham wasn’t waiting for things to fix themselves, and now Callahan gets the chance to build the group closer to his vision.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Made Their Post-Bates Defensive Priorities Very Clear
The Falcons wasted little time reinforcing the defense after the Bates move, locking in two more pieces before the market could shift further. Atlanta agreed to a three-year extension with EDGE Cameron Thomas that can reach $33 million, keeping him under contract through the 2029 season, and also finalized a two-year deal with cornerback CJ Henderson that can climb to $20 million with $11 million guaranteed.
Both moves were confirmed by multiple NFL insiders and agents, a sign the Falcons are intent on stabilizing the back end and the pass rush at the same time. For a team trying to sort out its defensive identity, the message is clear: Atlanta is not waiting around to see which of its own pieces might be available later. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Huge Chiefs Question Before Week 10
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For Atlanta, the timing matters because Kansas Citys offense can look very different depending on who is available in the run game. Reid said the team will evaluate Walker before deciding whether he can go, and if he cannot, rookie Emmett Johnson is in line to step in. It is the kind of development the Falcons will be watching closely as they try to prepare for whatever version of the Chiefs shows up. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Made Their Faith In Two Defensive Standouts Clear
The Falcons have doubled down on two defenders who have quietly become central to what they are trying to build on that side of the ball. Atlanta signed defensive end Cameron Thomas to a three-year deal worth $11 million per season, while cornerback C.J. Henderson also landed a two-year extension that can reach $20 million and includes $11 million guaranteed, a clear sign the team sees both players as more than short-term fixes.
Thomas has started every game this season and given Atlanta the kind of steady edge presence that coaches value even when the splash plays do not always grab the headlines. Hendersons path has been more complicated, but he has carved out a key role in the Falcons defense, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been especially vocal about Thomass effort and consistency as the team continues to lean on both players. [Read more 🡒]