If the Atlanta Falcons are in the market for a veteran quarterback this offseason, they're going to be an attractive destination , and not just because they have excellent skill-position talent in Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson.
Atlanta may not have a franchise quarterback, but in addition to their skill-position talent, the Falcons have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL , led by left tackle Jake Matthews and right guard Chris Lindstrom. And in 2023, center Drew Dalman has emerged as one of the better centers in the sport.
In fact, Pro Football Focus recently placed him on their All-Improved Team, noting that he's gone from a 65.9 PFF grade in 2022 to 84.7 in 2023.
"His 91.0 run-blocking grade is the best among NFL centers, and Dalman, despite allowing 24 pressures, is still improving as a pass-blocker," PFF wrote. "His best days are still ahead of him, but there aren’t many more dynamic centers in the NFL right now."
While there was some frustration with how coach Arthur Smith used him early in the season, Robinson has rushed for 756 yards after being selected with the No. 8 overall pick, 4.8 yards per carry. He's an immense talent, but to some degree, his excellent production can be attributed to those blocking for him, which Dalman has been at the forefront of.
Dalman was a fourth-round pick out of Stanford in 2021, and with his breakout campaign in 2023, he would be a logical extension candidate this offseason given that 2024 will be the final year of his rookie contract.
Perhaps over the lifetime of Dalman's second contract, the Falcons will find their next franchise quarterback and be able to take advantage of the ample talent elsewhere on their offense.
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