The Falcons got a milestone night from Jake Matthews on Sunday, but it also came with a clear message about the future.
Matthews started his 200th consecutive game in Atlanta’s overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens, becoming just the fifth offensive lineman in NFL history to hit that mark. His last missed game came in Week 2 of his rookie season 12 years ago. For a long stretch, that kind of reliability was exactly what the Falcons needed from their left tackle.
That steadiness has mattered even more for a team built around a physical style at the line of scrimmage. Matthews was never an elite name at the position, but he was consistently good enough to anchor the edge and keep the offense stable. Lately, though, the wheels have started to wobble.
This season has been rough for the 34-year-old, and Week 5 brought the downturn into sharper focus. Against Baltimore, even without Trey Hendrickson on the field, Matthews gave up three pressures to backup second-year EDGE Mike Green. He also dropped a wide-open touchdown on a trick play that was well designed but never had a chance once the ball hit his hands.
That’s why Atlanta has to start looking ahead now instead of waiting for the problem to solve itself. The Falcons shouldn’t be thinking about using their 2027 first-round pick on a replacement for Michael Penix Jr. under center. They should be looking at left tackle, where Matthews’ successor needs to be in place for the next decade-plus.
And the timing could work out. The 2027 tackle class is shaping up well, with LSU’s Jordan Seaton and Texas’ Trevor Goosby at the top.
Atlanta would probably need to be picking in the top 10 to land either one, and the team likely won’t be drafting that high. Still, both are worth keeping on the board and doing the homework on.
Fit matters here too, especially in Bill Callahan’s system. The Falcons want to run the ball and control the line, so the next left tackle needs to be a mauler first - someone who can do more in the run game than Matthews has and doesn’t get stuck in pass protection the way he has this season.
Behind Seaton and Goosby, Indiana’s Carter Smith looks like the next name to watch. He has allowed just nine pressures on 483 protection snaps, and he brings the kind of balanced profile Atlanta could use: solid in the run game, dependable in pass protection, and the anchor of one of the nation’s best offensive lines. That line has helped Indiana rank top 20 in rushing yards per game.
Miami’s Samson Okunlola and USC’s Elijah Paige also fit the mold for Atlanta. Okunlola checks in at 6-foot-6 and 360 pounds, while Paige stands 6-foot-7 and 315. Paige still needs work as a run defender, but both players could be molded into long-term answers for a Falcons offensive line that needs one badly.
Matthews’ milestone deserves recognition. So does everything he’s given Atlanta. But with contract flexibility after 2026 and Father Time closing in, the Falcons need to start planning for what comes next at left tackle.
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