Tag: Chris Lindstrom

Gimme Him: One player Giants would steal from Falcons

The New York Giants have long-standing offensive line issues, so stealing this player from the Atlanta Falcons is a no-brainer.

The New York Giants (2-12) will visit the Atlanta Falcons (7-7) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday afternoon in a Week 16 battle.

That, of course, provides those of us here at Giants Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Falcons’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades for Big Blue for the second time this season.

Believe it or not, there is actually a lot to pick from.

The Falcons may be a middle-of-the-road team in terms of record and most statistics, but they have a roster lined with high-end talent, including areas in which the Giants desperately lack.

Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is a tempting choice but the reality is, no one knows how he will translate to the NFL. We’ll collectively get our first taste of that on Sunday when he makes his starting debut against a team that passed him over in the 2024 NFL draft.

Other options include running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, safety Jessie Bates III, and linebacker Kaden Elliss. But ultimately, we’re stealing two-time All-Pro guard Chris Lindstrom.

Lindstrom is one of the best interior offensive linemen in the NFL and arguably the premiere guard. He’s an above-average pass protector and a dominant run blocker. His 92.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus is second among all guards in football and his 94.5 run blocking grade tops the league.

Over 514 pass block snaps, Lindstrom has allowed seven hits and just a single sack. He’s also paved the way for Robinson, who has more than 1,100 rushing yards this season while averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

Lindstrom would be a long-term answer for a long-standing Giants problem.

What are your thoughts, Giants fans? Would you pick Chris Lindstrom or would you steal an entirely different player from the Atlanta Falcons?

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Falcons offensive lineman is NFL’s highest-graded run blocker

Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom is the NFL’s highest-graded run-blocker entering Week 13

While the Atlanta Falcons have all the makings of a high-powered offense, it’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen this group operate at a high level. In Week 11, the team was held without an offensive touchdown and rushed for just 50 yards on 2.4 yards per attempt.

The Falcons must get their ground game back on track for this offense to reach its full potential. To do this, they should try running behind right guard Chris Lindstrom. The two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman is one of the best run-blockers in the league and has the grades to prove it.

Lindstrom’s run-blocking grade of 93.4 is the highest in the NFL this season, according to Pro Football Focus. The former first-round pick’s ability to open up holes helped him become one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the league.

Lindstrom still has some room for improvement when it comes to pass protection. With a pass-blocking grade of 61.6, he trails left tackle Jake Matthews, left guard Matthew Bergeron and center Ryan Neuzil this season.

The Falcons are averaging 117.9 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 14th out of 32 NFL teams. That’s one spot ahead of this week’s opponent — the Los Angeles Chargers.

Atlanta will host Los Angeles this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Check out the team’s latest injury report, depth chart and 53-man roster entering Week 13.

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Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom comments on Week 9 injury status

Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom comments on injury status for Week 9 game vs. Cowboys.

Atlanta Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom went down with a knee injury late in the third quarter of Sunday’s 31-26 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While Lindstrom was originally listed as questionable to return, he did not come back into the game. Head coach Raheem Morris said that Lindstrom was cleared to return but that he made the decision to keep him out.

This was probably a wise move to help the Pro Bowl guard avoid further injuring his knee. Lindstrom is a key piece on Atlanta’s offensive line and while his absence was surely felt, the team still came away with the win in a tough NFC South matchup.

After the game, Lindstrom confirmed that he was good to go for next weekend’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 3 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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Falcons right guard questionable to return with knee injury

Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Chris Lindstrom is questionable to return with a right knee injury.

Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Chris Lindstrom is questionable to return with a right knee injury he suffered late in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Lindstrom has been an essential piece to Atlanta’s success in both the passing and the run game this season, but there’s some relief to be found in the way the Falcons offensive line has held up to this point in the game since he was sidelined.

He was originally selected by the Falcons at No. 19 overall in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has been an important veteran presence. Lindstrom has appeared in 709 games so far in his career.

The Falcons currently lead the Buccaneers, 31-17 at the top of the fourth quarter.

Falcons restructure Chris Lindstrom’s contract to clear cap space

Falcons restructure guard Chris Lindstrom’s contract to clear cap space for Matthew Judon

The Atlanta Falcons rewarded Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom with a five-year, $105 million extension during the 2023 offseason and now Lindstrom is doing his part to return the favor.

The Falcons traded for Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon on Wednesday evening but needed a little help with their salary cap to complete the deal. According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the team restructured Lindstrom’s contract, converting part of his $12.5 million base pay into a bonus to help facilitate the trade.

Atlanta only needed about $3 million to afford Judon’s $6.5 million base pay but Lindstrom’s reworked contract gives the team more space to use on a potential extension. According to Over The Cap’s updated projections, the Falcons have $7,093,471 left after trading for Judon.

Judon, 32, can be the difference-maker the team has long been seeking off the edge. In 2022, the former Patriots edge rusher posted a career-high 15.5 sacks. Judon suffered a torn bicep injury that shortened his 2023 campaign.

The Falcons lost third-round pick Bralen Trice to a torn ACL last week and while the rookie wasn’t expected to start, it was still a major hit to the team’s pass rush. With Judon in the fold, Atlanta could be a legitimate threat in the NFC this season.

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Falcons OL Chris Lindstrom gets elite rating in ‘Madden NFL 25’

Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom is one of the highest-rated offensive linemen in “Madden NFL 25”

The Atlanta Falcons became painfully one-dimensional on offense over the last few seasons. While the running game has been among the best in the NFL, the passing attack has been mostly putrid since 2022.

Without a starting-caliber quarterback on the roster, the Falcons leaned heavily on that ground attack under former head coach Arthur Smith. Smith’s offenses may have been predictable, but he deserves credit for developing Atlanta’s offensive line into a top-tier unit.

Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary thrived in Smith’s run-heavy system and both players were paid handsomely as a result. Lindstrom has begun to rack up accolades in recent years, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro Second team in 2023.

On top of being a Pro Football Focus legend, Lindstrom is one the highest-rated offensive linemen in EA Sports’ new “Madden NFL 25” video game. The Falcons right guard earned an overall rating of 94:

Lindstrom was the sixth-highest-rated offensive lineman, but it would have been tough for him to be ranked any higher considering some of the other linemen on the list. Here’s a look at Madden NFL 25’s five highest-rated linemen:

  1. Trent Williams (49ers): 99 OVR
  2. Zack Martin (Cowboys): 97 OVR
  3. Penei Sewell (Lions): 96 OVR
  4. Lane Johnson (Eagles): 95 OVR
  5. Tyron Smith (Jets): 95 OVR

Sewell is the only player you could argue Lindstrom should be ranked ahead of, but even that’s debatable considering how well Detroit’s young right tackle has played over his first three seasons. Either way, the Falcons are happy to have Lindstrom leading their offensive line in 2024.

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Here’s where Chiefs OL Joe Thuney ranks outside the ‘NFL Top 100’ list

Here’s where Kansas City #Chiefs OL Joe Thuney ranks outside the ‘NFL Top 100’ list | @EdEastonJr

The annual NFL Top 100 list, voted by the players, is a ranking everyone looks forward to and sets the bar for the upcoming season. The Kansas City Chiefs have regularly featured multiple players on the list in previous years.

Chiefs starting offensive guard Joe Thuney was mentioned in this year’s program but only for missing out on making the list. The multiple-time Super Bowl champion ranked 101st, sitting just outside the top 100 list. In his recorded testimonial, Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Chris Lindstrom spoke highly of the Chiefs All-Pro.

“He’s phenomenal (and) a really good technician, so he drops back the way he does.” said Lindstrom. “and I just love and respect the way he plays.”

Thuney’s late-season injury last year may have affected his ranking, as he was forced to miss the rest of the Super Bowl run. The pectoral injury is healed as he was cleared to return to practice a few days ago at training camp.

Thuney just missing out on the top 100 is disappointing, but it’s interesting that he only lost out by one spot. The decision could be used as fuel for the veteran offensive lineman heading into the 2024 season.

Falcons OL Chris Lindstrom makes NFL Top 100 Players of 2024

Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom makes NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2024

Offensive linemen do not get the recognition they deserve in the NFL unless they’re truly exceptional players. There are only so many spots on the league’s All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and it’s not like offensive linemen get to be a part of fantasy football.

If you want to become a household name playing in the trenches, you’re going to need a little help from your friends. The NFL Network’s Top 100 Players countdown provides those in the league with another way to get exposure. These rankings are voted on exclusively by current NFL players and help kill time during the summer months of the offseason.

The Atlanta Falcons didn’t have to wait long to see one of their players listed on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024. Pro Bowl offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom landed at No. 88 on the NFL Network’s countdown:

The countdown is currently airing on NFL+ but will replay on NFL Network starting on July 31.

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Falcons OG Chris Lindstrom praised by NFL coaches, scouts

Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom received high praise from NFL coaches and scouts in new feature by ESPN

The Atlanta Falcons attempted to rebuild their offensive line during the 2019 offseason. Despite a few misfires in free agency, the team selected guard Chris Lindstrom and offensive tackle Kaleb McGary in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft and both players have developed nicely.

Lindstrom has really shined over the last few years, earning two second-team All-Pro selections and two trips to the Pro Bowl. The former Boston College standout signed a five-year, $105 million extension with the team in 2023.

While the Falcons believed in Lindstrom enough to make him one of the league’s highest-paid offensive linemen, what does the rest of the NFL think? Lindstrom received high praise from coaches and scouts in a new feature by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

A group of league execs ranked Lindstrom as the No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the NFL entering 2024:

“He’s slightly better than the field as a run blocker,” an NFL defensive line coach said. “I’d probably put him up against anyone there. And he’s improved enough as a pass blocker that he’s solid there.”

With other stars aging or declining, Lindstrom capitalized on a weaker field to jump six spots over last year. While he failed to appear on every ballot, his percentage of top-two votes (44%) was impressive.

“We’ve had him No. 1 for a few years now,” an AFC exec said. Added an NFC executive: “He was paid a lot because team had to take care of him — no real negatives here, just not elite in my opinion.” — ESPN

There is no denying Lindstrom’s dominance as a run blocker, but he truly has improved as a pass blocker since entering the league in 2019. At this point, it’s hard to knock anything about Lindstrom’s game.

The consistency he shows each week has helped the team develop an identity behind a dominant rushing attack. The Falcons are hoping the addition of Kirk Cousins will pay off with a more balanced offensive unit in 2024.

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Report: Saints to host Boston College OL Christian Mahogany on pre-draft visit

Add another name to the list of 30 official pre-draft visits for the Saints. Get to know Boston College guard Christian Mahogany:

Add another name to the list of New Orleans Saints official visits ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. Boston College offensive guard Christian Mahogany is one of the 30 prospects meeting with the Saints at their headquarters in Metairie this spring, per NFL draft analyst Jared Tokarz.

Mahogany has been on our radar for a while — he’s someone we put on our 2024 draft watch list last summer, and who was linked to the Saints in way-too-soon mock drafts before the season started. His college career began at left guard before the Eagles asked him to move to the right side, where he’s started in 2021 and 2023 (Mahogany missed the 2022 season with a knee injury).

Mahogany has done well for himself. He weighed in beneath the Saints’ previously-established standards for a guard at 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds but that’s right in line with the thresholds Klint Kubiak valued in his previous stint as an offensive coordinator, and his impressive movement skills should serve him well as a pro; Mahogany posted a 9.63 Relative Athletic Score which ranked 58 out of 1,523 guards since 1987.

Boston College has been an offensive line factory in recent years with several high draft picks like Zion Johnson (Los Angeles Chargers in 2022) and Chris Lindstrom (Atlanta Falcons in 2019), and Mahogany could be next. He was talked up as the best player on the field at East-West Shrine Bowl practices earlier this offseason. He’s currently projected to be a second- or third-round pick, so Mahogany could be in play when the Saints are on the clock at No. 45.

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