The Atlanta Falcons have locked up another piece of their young core, agreeing to terms with left guard Matthew Bergeron on a four-year contract extension worth a reported $96 million, including $60 million in guaranteed money.
Bergeron, a former second-round pick, was entering the final year of his rookie contract. This new deal keeps him in Atlanta for the next five years (through the 2030 NFL season).
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Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham already re-signed Drake London and Kyle Pitts, and he was happy to reward another core player with a new contract. Cunningham released a statement once the deal was done.
“Matthew is the type of player you build around,” Cunningham said. “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. Extending players like Matthew reflects our commitment to investing in the trenches and building a strong foundation for the future. We’re very excited he will be a Falcon for years to come.”
Bergeron posted a message to Falcons fans after signing his extension. Watch below, as shared by the team’s social media account.
The Falcons still need to get an extension done with running back Bijan Robinson. The former top-10 pick is one of NFL’s best young players and arguably the top running back in the league. Robinson has shown up to training camp each of the last four days but has yet to participate as he waits on a new deal.
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NFL insiders expect Robinson’s contract to be Cunningham’s next priority, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The Falcons are off on Sunday but will be back for their first full-contact practice on Monday morning.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons GM happy to get extend ‘cornerstone’ Matthew Bergeron
