​Several young up-and-coming players may eventually challenge him for the title, but for now the Atlanta Falcons’ best lineman remains right guard Chris Lindstrom. He’s the kind of guard who earns real recognition, a rarity in the trenches, and he has been delivering high-level performance for the Falcons since he entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The latest nod for Lindstrom comes courtesy of ESPN, which named him one of the league’s 10 best interior offensive linemen in an anonymous poll of NFL executives. Lindstrom placed No. 6 on their list, marking his rise after he was unranked in 2025. “The rep on Lindstrom used to be ‘great in the run game, average in the passing game.’ He has overcome that billing,” one NFL coordinator said. “And some around the league believe he can handle more than what’s required of him in Atlanta. Athleticism and explosiveness—his size makes him somewhat of a specific scheme fit, but there really isn’t anyone who does a lot of the things that he can do. They never ask him to pull, but he would open some eyes if he did.”
Lindstrom is the beating heart of a Falcons’ offensive line that stands as one of the team’s strongest roster components. Across his career so far, he has been selected to four Pro Bowls and has appeared twice on the NFL Top 100 list. Now 29 years old, Lindstrom has already appeared in 105 NFL games at this level, a testament to his durability and consistency in a league that demands both.
Generally considered among the league’s top groups, the Falcons’ offensive line has long been a core strength. With the arrival of Bill Callahan as coach, that unit could be poised to push toward elite status. Lindstrom’s continued development will be central to that ascent, given how integral he is to the team’s blocking schemes and overall offensive identity.
This profile of Lindstrom reflects his standing as a foundational piece for Atlanta and a player whose performance has outpaced prior expectations. He’s not only a model of steady excellence in the running game but also increasingly trusted to contribute in pass protection as his career progresses. As the Falcons build around him, Lindstrom’s role is likely to expand, and the recognition he has earned from league peers underscores his importance to the team’s long-term outlook.