The Atlanta Falcons have reportedly restructured left tackle Jake Matthews’ contract, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter.
Matthews, 29, is entering his eighth season in the NFL. Since the Falcons selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Matthews has started 111 games. His consistency protecting Matt Ryan's blindside is something Atlanta has become dependent on over the last seven years.
The move to restructure Matthews' contract is one of the Falcons' efforts to get below the salary cap of $182.5 million salary cap. All 32 NFL teams must be below the salary cap by 4 p.m. ET on March 17. Ledbetter reports this restructure created 8.6$ million of cap space room.
Matthews is under contract with the Falcons through the 2023 season. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2024 at the age of 32.
