Atlanta Falcons post-draft position preview: Center
The Atlanta Falcons should benefit from continuity on offense this season with 10 of 11 starters set to return in 2025. However, center Drew Dalman signed a lucrative deal with the Chicago Bears on the opening day of NFL free agency, leaving a hole in the middle of Atlanta's offensive line.
Since the team didn't add a center in the draft, the Falcons will look to veteran backup Ryan Neuzil to step up in 2025. After starting eight games last season, Neuzil will enter the year as the starter for the first time in his NFL career.
Advertisement
In today's post-draft preview, we examine the center position, including depth chart, salary cap space and available free agents.
Center depth chart
Ryan Neuzil
Jovaughn Gwyn
Matthew Cindric
Michael Gonzalez
As you can see above, there's no real threat or competition for Neuzil at center. Gwyn is a former seventh-round pick and has only appeared in two career games. Cindric is a former undrafted free agent who spent his first year in Minnesota. The Falcons signed Gonzalez is an undrafted free agent out of Louisville while they waited for Neuzil to sign his contract.
2025 salary cap hits
Neuzil: $3,263,000
Gwyn: $1,030,000
Cindric: $840,000
Gonzalez: $840,000
The Falcons signed Neuzil to a two-year, $9.5 million deal in late May. His 2025 salary cap hit is $3.2 million, which isn't bad for a starting offensive lineman. Gwyn has the second-highest cap hit of the team's centers at $1 million this season. Cindric and Gonzalez are outside of the Falcons' top 51 players in terms of salary cap this season ($840,000 apiece).
Top free agents available
David Andrews (retired)
Nick Harris
Dan Feeney
Nick Gates
Advertisement
The free-agent center market leaves a lot to be desired. It's clear why the team felt bringing back Neuzil was its best option. Former Patriots center David Andrews would have been a good option but he opted to retire following his release. Dan Feeney and Nick Gates are a few low-end options the team could consider if they don't like their current group.
Predictions/expectations for 2025
Neuzil is a former undrafted free agent who's spent his entire career as a backup. He played well in place of Dalman last season and now it's his time to shine. While Neuzil doesn't have much experience, he's in a good spot playing between Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom and former second-round pick Matthew Bergeron. If Neuzil doesn't get the job done this season, perhaps the team will give Gwyn a look.
Falcons post-draft position breakdowns
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons position preview: Ryan Neuzil to lead center group
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
33 minutes ago
- USA Today
Sean McVay: Rams face 'obstacles' in potential Jalen Ramsey trade
The Los Angeles Rams have been highlighted as a potential Jalen Ramsey landing spot since the Miami Dolphins and their veteran cornerback mutually agreed to seek a trade ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Rams coach Sean McVay has noted his appreciation for Ramsey – who played four seasons in Los Angeles and won Super Bowl 56 with the team – several times during the offseason. JALEN RAMSEY LANDING SPOTS: Rams, Raiders among best fits if Dolphins trade CB However, McVay also explained there are "obstacles" in trading for a cornerback when asked about the position at Rams training camp Tuesday in Maui. "Usually, those are scenarios and situations that you have to have plans in place prior to executing some of the decisions that have occurred," McVay said, per "Definitely don't want to rule anything out because we're always open-minded to onboarding and acquiring quality players and people like him if we're able to do that, but there would be some obstacles that are real that are in the place of maybe preventing that from occurring." One of the largest such obstacles in a potential trade is Ramsey's contract. The 30-year-old signed a three-year, $72.3 million extension with the Dolphins ahead of the 2024 NFL season and will be due $91.8 million in total cash over the next four years, per Ramsey has reasonable cap hit of just under $16.7 million in 2025. The Rams could absorb that into their current $21.9 million in salary cap space, per easily enough. But in each of the ensuing three seasons, Ramsey will carry a cap charge of at least $25 million. That makes him a high-cost acquisition, especially if a team is surrendering draft capital to get him. That may be part of the reason McVay is throwing cold water on a deal coming together. If one doesn't, the Rams figure to rely on Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon as their starters once again with returning players Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes, Derion Kendrick, Quentin Lake and Josh Wallace fighting for roles alongside them.
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sean McVay: Rams face 'obstacles' in potential Jalen Ramsey trade
The Los Angeles Rams have been highlighted as a potential Jalen Ramsey landing spot since the Miami Dolphins and their veteran cornerback mutually agreed to seek a trade ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Rams coach Sean McVay has noted his appreciation for Ramsey – who played four seasons in Los Angeles and won Super Bowl 56 with the team – several times during the offseason. Advertisement JALEN RAMSEY LANDING SPOTS: Rams, Raiders among best fits if Dolphins trade CB However, McVay also explained there are "obstacles" in trading for a cornerback when asked about the position at Rams training camp Tuesday in Maui. "Usually, those are scenarios and situations that you have to have plans in place prior to executing some of the decisions that have occurred," McVay said, per "Definitely don't want to rule anything out because we're always open-minded to onboarding and acquiring quality players and people like him if we're able to do that, but there would be some obstacles that are real that are in the place of maybe preventing that from occurring." One of the largest such obstacles in a potential trade is Ramsey's contract. The 30-year-old signed a three-year, $72.3 million extension with the Dolphins ahead of the 2024 NFL season and will be due $91.8 million in total cash over the next four years, per Advertisement Ramsey has reasonable cap hit of just under $16.7 million in 2025. The Rams could absorb that into their current $21.9 million in salary cap space, per easily enough. But in each of the ensuing three seasons, Ramsey will carry a cap charge of at least $25 million. That makes him a high-cost acquisition, especially if a team is surrendering draft capital to get him. That may be part of the reason McVay is throwing cold water on a deal coming together. If one doesn't, the Rams figure to rely on Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon as their starters once again with returning players Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes, Derion Kendrick, Quentin Lake and Josh Wallace fighting for roles alongside them. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Ramsey trade rumors: 'Obstacles' in potential Rams deal
Newsweek
39 minutes ago
- Newsweek
NFL Expert Labels Commanders' Trade Pickup a 'Guaranteed Riser'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A viral clip at mandatory minicamp didn't do Deebo Samuel any favors last week. As Samuel went through a route in practice, a single video clip of the scene surfaced online and led fans to believe that he was out of shape and missed a step. It didn't sit right with Samuel's former teammate, George Kittle, who stars for the San Francisco 49ers. The Washington Commanders dusted it off. Dan Quinn praised his wide receiver, indirectly responding to the narrative that has been built over the past few days. "Somewhere along the way, I'd forgotten until [he was] out here how fast he is," Quinn told reporters last week. "He was such a difficult person to tackle that you spent so much time, 'How are you going to tackle this person?' And so, sometimes when you're playing against the receiver, you say, 'Man, you better either get him at the line or you better be on top of him.' With him, so many times there were so many runs after catch plays that we had a tackling plan, and how would you go about it?" Despite the looks of everything on a single piece of evidence from a spring practice, there hasn't been much real smoke surrounding a narrative that would suggest Samuel's decline is going to reach new lows when he debuts in Washington for the first time this year. Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers runs during an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers runs during an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Santa Clara, fact, one NFL analyst believes that the veteran wide receiver will improve, listing Samuel among a handful of "guaranteed risers." "Despite his declining production over the last couple seasons in San Francisco, Samuel has been one of the most productive wide receivers since 2021," analyst Marc Ross writes. "Yet, for as good as he was with the 49ers, an argument could be made that the seventh-year veteran is entering the best situation of his career after being traded to Washington this offseason. The change of scenery puts Samuel in an offense that is led by an MVP-caliber quarterback in Jayden Daniels. Also, he'll pair with a true No. 1 receiver in Terry McLaurin to form a dangerous tandem in Kliff Kingsbury's passing attack." The Commanders are on the rise in the NFC. Just last season, they witnessed their rookie quarterback put up elite numbers while becoming one of two NFC East teams to make a playoff bid. Washington upset the third-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers before waltzing into Detroit and taking down the top-seeded Lions. The playoff run was stopped short in Philadelphia against the Eagles in the NFC Championship round. Adding Samuel was a priority move for the Commanders, who wanted to stack proven weapons for the young Daniels to keep him sharp. Last season, the young quarterback completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards. He tossed 25 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. As for Samuel, he's struggled to live up to his third season in the NFL, when he led the league in average yards per catch with 18.2. That year, he caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards. Since then, Samuel has averaged a little over 700 yards per season. The Commanders acquired the veteran after he produced 4,792 yards and 22 receiving touchdowns in San Francisco. He was also a threat on the ground, rushing for over 1,100 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns. For more Washington Commanders and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
