“You’d be hard-pressed to find a harder worker…everybody’s gonna want him on their team.” That’s Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich gushing over linebacker Jamien Sherwood back in December. Fast-forward to March, and Atlanta’s front office just dropped a different kind of flex. But before that, there’s a positive update for Falcons’ QB Kirk Cousins.

While Ulbrich’s reunion dreams with Sherwood fizzled, the Falcons pivoted like prime Michael Vick, locking down Kirk Cousins’s blindside guardian, Jake Matthews. They did that for a two-year, $45M extension. Cue the confetti—or at least a very satisfied sigh from Cousins, who’s probably muttering, ‘You like that?!’ into his headset.

Matthews isn’t just a human turnstile for pass-rushers—he’s Atlanta’s Iron Man. With 174 consecutive starts (the NFL’s longest active streak for O-linemen) and a 79.8 overall grade in 2024 (per PFF), the 32-year-old left tackle has anchored chaos since 2014. Teammates call him the “Zen Master” for his unshakable calm.

“Ups and downs, he’s always composed. He doesn’t ride the waves,” raves rookie Matthew Bergeron. Think of Matthews as the Falcons’ Obi-Wan Kenobi: wise, steady, and the only reason Cousins isn’t constantly doing his best ‘Hello, turf!’ impression.

But this deal isn’t just about stats—it’s vibes. Matthews and Cousins share a bond tighter than a goal-line stand. When Kirk Cousins arrived last offseason, he brought his infamous dad jokes and a Step Brothers-level commitment to friendship ‘Did we just become best friends?!’

Matthews, ever the straight man, deadpanned, “He’s a funny guy.” Yet beneath the laughs lies trust. Matthews’s 85.4 pass-block grade in 2024 kept Kirk Cousins cleaner than a fresh set of kicks. That was even during the QB’s midseason slump (18 TDs, 16 INTs). Now, with Cousins fighting to keep his job after rookie Michael Penix Jr.’s rise, Matthews’ extension screams, ‘We’re not done yet.’

Meanwhile, Ulbrich’s heartbreak played out like a ‘Succession’ subplot.

Ulbrich’s Sherwood: One that got away

The Jets LB Jamien Sherwood—a 2024 breakout star with 158 tackles and a team MVP nod—was this close to becoming Atlanta’s latest defensive toy. Ulbrich, Sherwood’s former DC, and assistant Mike Rutenberg had groomed him from raw safety to linebacker savant.

“He never shies away…he cares about us,” Sherwood said of Rutenberg, who once texted him play critiques at midnight. But loyalty won. Sherwood inked a three-year, $45M deal ($30M guaranteed) to stay with the Jets. Hence, leaving Ulbrich to mutter, ‘So it goes,’ like a gridiron Vonnegut.

Atlanta’s pursuit wasn’t just about stats—it was about culture. Sherwood’s journey mirrors ‘Rocky Balboa’ in cleats: a fifth-round pick turned tackle leader, morphing from backup to beacon after C.J. Mosley’s injuries. His 98 solo tackles (NFL-best) and locker-room gravitas made him Ulbrich’s white whale. “He’s gonna get rewarded,” Ulbrich vowed. But the Jets, smelling blood, paid up. For the Falcons, it’s a clear reminder that free agency feels less like Moneyball and more like The Hunger Games—where even mentors can get ghosted.

In the end, Atlanta’s week was a tale of two contracts: one secured, one slipped. Matthews, the old guard, stays to shield Kirk Cousins’ twilight; Sherwood, the prodigal pupil, remains a Gang Green member.

The Falcons? They’ll keep building—brick by brick, deal by deal—because in the NFL, as Ted Lasso once said, ‘It’s not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves.’ Even if “helping” sometimes means watching your dream target sign elsewhere, while you double down on the guy who’s always had your QB’s back.