Atlanta Falcons: Making Room for Evan Mathis?

The Atlanta Falcons announced monday that they have released former first round pick, offensive lineman, Sam Baker. Per NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus, Baker was one of several lineman expected to compete for the team’s vacant left guard position. His release leaves the competition open with free agent signees, Chris Chester the likely early favorite. Chester started at left guard new Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan when they were both with the Redskins.

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Chester was a four year starter in Washington, with three of those years coming under Shanahan. It’s tough to get a read on how good Chester might be as Washington never had much to offer in the way of competition and has been a pretty average starter outside of the 2012 year that saw the Redskins ride a read option offense and 7 game win streak to the playoffs. Chester’s 2014 rating from Pro Football Focus (+1.6) was good for 10th among 2015 free agent guards, but easily dwarfed by Evan Mathis’ +12 grade.

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While a competition among the current talent on the roster should produce a serviceable starter, whether it be Chester, fellow free agent signee Mike Person, or one of the younger less proven players, there is little question that Mathis would be a huge upgrade. The Falcons have struggled mightily with their depth along the line, signing Mathis to solidify the spot and allowing Person and Chester to take on reserve roles would make the team as a whole better.

Some teams have concerns about Mathis’ ability to fit their system, but that wouldn’t be a problem in Atlanta as he’s a perfect fit in Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme. The Falcons could also use another veteran body on what is an otherwise young starting offensive line. (The average age of the four other starters is 24.75) Despite a holdout of voluntary activities and multiple requests for his release, Mathis’ Eagles teammates largely understood his position, and regarded him as a good teammate.

Mathis is far from the first Eagles player to find himself on the outside looking in at head coach Chip Kelly’s culture first system; the pro bowl guard joins fellow offensive standouts DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin as player who just didn’t mesh well enough with Kelly to stick around. Mathis may be a good deal older than the aforementioned players, but a drop in play should be seen as just as unlikely. In his own words Mathis is looking forward to having his “best year yet,” in 2015 after being limited with an MCL sprain in 2014.

Financially, fitting Mathis under the cap in 2015 shouldn’t be much of an issue. Over The Cap lists them at just over $18.25 million and given the dearth of free agent talent left on the market and most of their young talent still in the early years of rookie contracts the Falcons should be able to slide Mathis in this year as the continue to work towards and extension with Julio Jones. Outside of Jones and tackle, Ryan Schraeder, the Falcons won’t have many key free agents in 2016, so a two year deal that puts more money upfront and still makes Mathis happy seems eminently doable.

Admittedly, Mathis seems a little splashy for new head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff who’s kept the Falcons free agents signings conspicuously low key to this point, but maybe they were just waiting for the right player to become available. Atlanta is coming off back to back seasons that saw them picking in the top 10, but the Panthers, division winning, 7-8-1 record in 2014 is proof that the NFC South is still very much up for grabs.

Running back tandem Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman are threatening to bring balance back to an Atlanta offense that was dominant a few years back, when heavy doses of Michael Turner keeping defenses honest against Matt Ryan’s aerial attack. Mathis could be a key part of that puzzle going forward.

Nov 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles guard Evan Mathis (69) on the sidelines during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Philadelphia beat Dallas 33-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

It may also work in Atlanta’s favor that Mathis is reportedly in no hurry to sign with a team.

As I mentioned earlier, Mathis would be a plug and play starter in Shanahan’s zone blocking system, and the longer he waits the more teams will be willing to move on without out him.

The latest report from Mathis’ agent Drew Rosenhaus says his client has interest from 10 teams.

Many of those teams are likely only interested at a certain price, and Atlanta’s favorable cap situation should allow them to let a market develop and offer just a bit more cash, with a favorable chance of playoff contention.

It’s a good fit for both player and team, but the information continues to come quickly regard Mathis’ status and where he’d like to play, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, SI.com has an excellent article up of Mathis breaking down his own game tape from 2014 if you’re interested in learning more about the free agent gaurd and what he brings to the table in his own words.

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