FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons continued to invest in their young offense Saturday, when they announced left guard Matthew Bergeron had been signed to a four-year contract extension.
The move comes after the team gave new deals in the offseason to receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts, a pair of 25-year-olds who were top-10 picks in their respective NFL drafts. Running back Bijan Robinson, 24, has attended practices at the start of training camp, but the No. 8 pick of the 2023 draft has not participated in an apparent contract “hold-in” as he seeks a new deal.
Bergeron, 26, would have become a free agent after this season without a new deal.
“Matthew is the type of player you build around,” Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said in a release. “He’s establishing himself as one of the top young guards in the NFL, and his toughness, consistency and leadership have made him a cornerstone of our offensive line and the culture we’re building in Atlanta.”
Bergeron, a second-round pick in 2023, has started 49 games in three seasons. He helped Atlanta’s offensive line give up just 26 sacks last season, the fourth fewest in the league. The Falcons ranked eighth in the league with their average of 125.8 rushing yards per game.