The Atlanta Falcons plan on protecting Matt Ryan in 2019 and beyond, drafting a second offensive lineman in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Not a sexy pick, but with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley already locking down the wide receiver slots, addressing the offensive line was a must for the Falcons. They added Boston College guard Chris Lindstrom with their first pick, and selected Washington’s Kaleb McGary with the 31st overall pick.
At 6-foot-7 and 317 pounds, McGary is a massive upgrade at right tackle for the Falcons. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller claimed after hearing the pick, “The right side of the offensive line is fixed.” That’s good news for Ryan and the Falcons offense.
McGary was a three-year starter for the Huskies at right tackle in the PAC-12, earning first-team all conference honors his junior and senior seasons. He could see a move inside to guard depending on how he adjusts to the game at the next level, but it wouldn’t be an impossible adjustment.
There’s no guarantee McGary is forced into a starting role in year one, though. The Falcons already have Alex Mack at center and added Jamon Brown, James Carpenter, Adam Gettis, and John Wetzel via free agency. All of those guys aren’t starters, instead adding depth, but there’ll be an opportunity for McGary to learn and grow early in his career.
The Falcons didn’t have a ton of needs heading into the first round of the NFL Draft, but they did add two players with great expectations for the future. To give the Falcons anything less than a B would be comical, as keeping your quarterback upright is the No. 1 goal of every offense in the NFL.