It’s no surprise to see Lindstrom ranked so highly by analysts who saw him as a reach when the Falcons drafted him in 2019.
Chris Lindstrom is a special player, and the Atlanta Falcons faithful aren’t the only ones who know it.
PFF knows it too.
Chris Lindstrom since 2022:
95.5 PFF grade – 1st among all offensive players
The No. 29 player and No. 1 guard on the PFF50 pic.twitter.com/etRfkLcyQh
— PFF (@PFF) July 16, 2025
Pro Football Focus (PFF) has been releasing their top-50 NFL players list, and to no surprise, Lindstrom has found himself on it.
The next-to-last first-round pick of the Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff era (if you’ll recall, the Falcons traded back up into the first to select OT Kaleb McGary at No. 31 the same year) was viewed as an “overdraft” by media once upon a time. Now those same people are ranking him top 10 in their summer re-draft articles.
Lindstrom has been so undeniably good that he’s changed the perception of the position and its importance, just ask Kansas City Chiefs OL Trey Smith, the owner of the most expensive guard contract in history, a title once held by the Falcons All-Pro. Teams are far more willing to invest in interior line play now than they were a decade ago, and Lindstrom has been a key variable to that development.
Credit to Terry Fontenot for wasting no time in extending the star and paying the asking price, as one can already argue that Lindstrom is underpaid for his services.
Atlanta led the NFL in team rushing grade last season (89.2), and Lindstrom was the driving force behind it. PFF has graded Lindstrom as one of the elite run-blockers in the league, every season he’s played, and 2024 graded out as his best as a professional.
Chris Lindstrom vs. Jalen Carter was a heavyweight fight between two elite-level players. Lindstrom had decisive win after decisive win until later in the game when Carter notched a couple of pressures. Incredible matchup to study ️ pic.twitter.com/kUlDxsPMkQ
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 17, 2024
Lindstrom puts out teaching tape every Sunday. Whether it’s climbing to the second level to flatten linebackers or pulling across the formation to obliterate the poor souls waiting for him on the edge, there’s nothing the best guard in football can’t do.