 How was it like getting back out there yesterday and getting off to the program start? Oh, it was great, you know, getting in here, it's like, you know, a lot of people say the first day of school except, you know, you go into the first day of school and usually, you know, you have the same classmates that you would have except, you know, half your classmates are gone, you have a new half of classmates. So, you know, it's fun to get in here, see new faces, see the energy around the building of God, just, you know, coming in here ready to work. So, you know, it's been exciting to get back in here and just be where we are. Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, you look at like week 14, I think whatever that was, and you know, going through the bye week, you know, that's when I was told then and then from that point on, you know, it's kind of just going into the off season, you know, myself, just, you know, taking it as you're the starter. And so, you know, it was just kind of throughout, you know, whatever it may have been throughout the off season. But, you know, that was my mindset from as soon as I stepped foot on the field for the first time down in New Orleans, was just obviously taking it wrong with it. Coach said, you know, the first year, the second year's lead should be pretty good. They're expecting growth. And, you know, the fact that, you know, you're staying in the same system should be helpful. Are those factors that you're hoping or playing your favorite here as you take over? Those are huge factors, you know, there's a very select few who get to say that they've had, you know, the same scheme, offense coordinator, head coach, whatever it may be for multiple years in a row. So, for myself being one of those guys, I'm going to take advantage of that, you know, going in here with Drew and these wide receivers and the centers and, you know, getting the run game down and getting, you know, the past game, you know, as good as it needs to be with the receivers, you know, from a mental standpoint, I think that's, you know, where you're going to see the next step and excel from. Desmond, to kind of borrow your school metaphor with new classmates, I don't know if that makes you look like a new class president or whatever. How's life different when you are the guy here during the offices and workouts? Is it setting an example? Is it motivating? How's it different? Yeah, it's a setting example. It's being the voice, you know, being in that locker room, just being that guy that, you know, guys go to, to maybe ask questions or whatever it may be, you know, I got a lot of guys that are, you know, hitting me. Yeah, they, when are we throwing, when are we doing this? And just letting them know, just taking leadership, taking the initiative of when to be, where to be. Obviously, you know, we're not going through much install right now. So, so kind of just pushing them and bringing everyone together, just, you know, right now we're just working on growing as, as culture as brothers and just trying to grow closer. Yeah, so, you know, you look at it and, you know, a lot of people say, okay, this is year two. I was not in this position. We were not even here this time last year. So, you know, a lot of us as rookies still look at this as, you know, we're still in a rookie year for the next two, three weeks, whatever it may have been. And, you know, this was a rookie offseason. So, you know, next offseason, you know, there are going to be things that you change and do better and, you know, go about differently. So, you know, I think it's just really just, you know, being in here and just being around the guys. Right before you, by being a backup, being behind markers and learning from him. And then once you, once they decide to make the change, make you to start, did you see a difference in response to fight from your teammates? Did you see a difference? No, I think, you know, throughout the entire season, myself and Marcus, you know, try to do the best job as we can of being leaders on the team obviously as a quarterback. You know, I don't think we did, you know, I think we were just working equal within each other, you know, wasn't stepping on each other's toes and everything. So when that transition happened, you know, it was kind of, you know, seamless. And the guys, you know, obviously being at the quarterback, they're going to gravitate to you. So, you know, Marcus did a great job. And, you know, I think I do a great job of being a leader. And so, you know, just going out there, as long as you're doing what you need to do in executing, I think everything's going to be okay. Yeah, so, you know, we've been throwing this off season for the past couple of weeks. So we've got to know each other real well. You know, we've been in meetings for the past couple of days, just seeing where it's heads at, you know, get on the golf course here soon. So I will see what that game's like. And I know Logan's been talking up a big game too. So I'm excited to see what, you know, who's the best in the room. Logan claims he is right now. I wouldn't say I'm the best, but I wouldn't say I'm the worst either. You know, just just seeing, you know, he's had a completely different, you know, career and just the way he went about his game. And so, you know, it's just going to be interesting to hear his stories and hear how he's gone about things, both, you know, on the field and off the field, how he's handled things, you know, both, you know, his up and down roller coasters of his game. So, you know, it's going to be interesting to get, you know, once we get into, you know, with a really nitty gritty of it. Being a kind of your first rookie offseason number since you didn't really have that before. So how was it before years before being in the NFL? One more time. You talked about being a rookie offseason. So how was it different this offseason compared to your years just in college? Yeah, I mean, in college, you know, some of us were fortunate enough to go deeper than others in college. But, you know, in college, you get about two, maybe three weeks off, and then you're right back right when school starts. And, you know, you're lifting Monday, Wednesday, Friday, whatever it may be. You're in there. Then you got spring ball. And so, you know, obviously, in the NFL, you don't have any of that. You're on your own. And so just getting, for me, it was just being around the guys. So working out with a couple guys here down in the city, getting guys together to throw, obviously, you know, once free agency starts and you got new guys, you got guys contacting you, you got to contact guys. And just trying to see where everyone's at all around the country, just to figure out, you know, a time and a place, hey, get together, maybe throw one time, maybe throw two times, or come back here and throw. So it's all on your own, obviously. So, you know, you got to put in the work by yourself. You got to be self-motivated. And, you know, I think for obviously the first time, first offseason, I did pretty well. When you look back at the four games that they played, how much did you go back and rewatch some of that? What's with hindsight? What is the maybe one thing that you took from that? You're like, okay, I really picked up on that that I didn't have? Yeah, one thing I would just say is just obviously progression. You know, that's what you look for. Not only, you know, game to game, but year in year out is just progress. And, you know, not only as myself, but as a team. And so, you know, we just, you go back and look at those four games and, you know, each game as myself, as a player, as an offense, I think we've got better. You know, it's obviously, you know, not where we want it to be at the end of the season. But, you know, I think that we see that, you know, where we can be and what we can do. So I'm excited for the progress that we showed and, you know, hopefully we continue to have that progress going, moving throughout. What, for you, when you look back at it, was the area of progression that you saw the most in your own game? Take the team part back like I showed you? Yeah, I would just say settling down, just being comfortable with where you're at. You know, not getting too antsy, just being able to go in and make plays and not have to make too many plays, you know, by yourself. There's 10 other guys out there that are going to help you. So just being able to go out there and just, you know, give what they're taking, or excuse me, take what they're giving you out there on the field. And I think, you know, once I settle down and saw that, that's kind of where we progress. Was there a moment in the off season where Arthur or Terry or some combination communicated to you that, yeah, we see you as the 2023 guy, too, and that's how we're progressing this off season. Did y'all have that conversation? Yeah, there was a conversation. I don't know what point, you know, in the off season. But, you know, I know those guys, trust me, are in Terry. And, you know, it's just been, you know, they've told me that, that they trust me and, you know, that they see what I do out on the field. They see my leadership. And, you know, that that's what they want. And so, you know, I'm just going to keep continuing to be myself, be who I am, be the leader I can be and go out there and just keep proving myself. Did they work you into, like, did you know they're bringing Taylor in? I mean, did they say, all right, we're going to bring in a guy this is, but we don't want you to understand kind of the pecking order, the way we see it. Are you part of those conversations? Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, first year guy, you know, obviously not Tom Brady, not Aaron Rodgers. So I'm not up there sitting in those meetings. But, you know, they tell you, you know, might bring a guy in, might not. You know, it always depends on, you know, what's going to happen. Like we said, you know, they said that they trusted in me, said that they saw potential in what I could be. And, you know, that's all I needed to hear. For some, for, I guess, months, it seemed like there were questions about whether they would try to trade for quarterback, no more jacks. It was the nameless threat. Like, do you avoid that? Like, do people start asking you a lot about that when you're kind of sitting there being like, I think I'm the guy, but there's also all this outside talk. How do you deal with that? Yeah, I mean, there's not too many people asking me that, because, you know, I'm just with my family and there's the guys that I work with in the off season. But no, I can control what I can control. You know, one of those things that that's just obviously something that I can't control. Like I said, I'm not in those meetings. You know, are the Mr. Blank who's owner here. So I'm not the one making the calls. You know, but at the end of the day, you know, when they told me my role, you know, that's what I knew it was going to be. And I just took it and went with it. What was your perspective on seeing all those signings having not just Taylor, but, you know, all the additions, the veteran additions that were brought to this team? Oh, I think, you know, it's a great addition to our team. You know, like I said before, progress. We always want to keep going up. And I think, you know, that, you know, the guys that we added on this team throughout free agency, I think it's really going to benefit us, not only on the field, but off the field, in the locker room, just leadership roles too. Just going out there to be able to, you know, push some of these younger guys to lead some of these younger guys, maybe not rookies, but you know, some of the guys maybe still on the rookie contract, whatever, to just go out there and be great. You know, some of these guys have came from successful teams, has been successful as individuals themselves. So it's going to be huge for not only myself, obviously, but all of us. How different is the vibe now than when you came in last year? I know you're more comfortable just like around the team, all those people coming in, how the vibe maybe is different? Oh, I would say for myself, you know, I think it's a completely different vibe. Obviously, like I said, 365 days ago, I was back in Louisville, getting ready for a draft, so I wasn't here then. But you know, it's a good vibe. You know, everyone's excited to be back here ready to work. Everyone's, you know, just happy to be here. Just, you know, there's obviously no complaints. Everyone was ready to get back and just ready to go to work. Being with a team, compared to this time last year when you had the draft, I mean, just like mentally, how does that feel different? Oh, I mean, it feels great. And, you know, for myself, I'm obviously from Louisville, Kentucky. We didn't have very many college, excuse me, professional teams, obviously close in the area. So as a younger kid, you know, I would watch the draft for maybe like the first, you know, 10 picks, whatever it may be. And then, you know, it kind of really didn't mean much more to me other than I wanted to be there one day. I mean, then obviously you go to, you know, 365 days last year, and it was okay, where am I going? What team am I going? What city is it going to be? And then now it's like, okay, who's going to help us? Like, and so it's pretty cool to, you know, kind of be in that spot. Now it's seeing, okay, and these are the pieces of the puzzle. Here's what they're thinking upstairs, like, and how it's going to help. So it's pretty cool. How did it feel like with when you have got the news that Chris and Caleb were being brought back, like, say, hey, these are the guys that we want to see around for the foreseeable future? Yeah, this smile on my face right here. No, those are two great guys, and they work their butts off every single day. And it obviously showed on the field, you know, all those guys up front obviously do a heck of a job, you know, game planning throughout the week. You know, they obviously all got to work as one, so I know they gel really well. And then like I said, they just come in every single day, no complaints, put in the work, put in the time, and obviously, you know, they got paid for it. So many of the offensive skill position guys, like you, Kyle, Trey, are all within like two or three years of each other. Is there some, something that can help that, or not help that, but rather like, can that be a help, you think, for you guys versus, you know, sometimes teams have the quarterback, it's 35. I mean, yeah, I think it can. I think it all depends on, you know, how the leader goes about it and, you know, how other people respond to it. But, you know, I don't think age really matters. I think as long as the guys are connecting, you know, no one's, you know, either pushing one way or another and, you know, got people biting back. That's kind of where you get in trouble. But, you know, as long as everyone's on the same page, as long as everyone's trying to, you know, achieve a goal, I think it's all going to go pretty well. Some of these rumors that were happening in the off-season, some of the speculation that was happening by media, you know, I think media outside of this room, more like national media, the implication of that kind of was that, you know, there wasn't a quarterback for the Falcons or at least one that they would expect to be, you know, challenging for the division. Do you hear that at all, that message in the media and like, does that put a chip on your shoulder at all coming into this year? Yeah, I have a TV in my house. So I do see that sometimes. Yeah, you know, it puts a chip on my shoulder. But, you know, at the end of the day, like I said, I can control what I can control. I know at the end of the day, I'm going to go out here and work and go out here and be the best player I can be, not only for myself, but for my team as well. I actually did see that news as well. I've been to one hockey game. I think it was a Rangers versus the Devils up there in New York. And so I've been up there. I've been to one hockey game. No, but I think it would obviously be huge. You know, we have the Braves. We have the Hawks right now in the playoffs. Braves were obviously hot. You know, I think, you know, bringing a hockey team to Atlanta and obviously, you know, how about the city? I think, you know, you saw the designs of what the area down there could be. It was beautiful and everything. So, you know, more attention. Why not? Yeah, I won't name all the guys just because, you know, there's guys here and there. But just know as a good group of guys, you know, we were down more so in the Brookhaven area, just working out, just building the connection. You know, it wasn't, you know, we had an offseason meeting with myself and Rags. It wasn't more so, you know, go out there and, you know, still work fundamentals and everything. But, you know, with my trainer, Jordan Palmer, as so as more as it was, you know, get out there and work with your guys, grow a connection with the guys. So that's something I took to heart. Like I said, when we had free agency coming left and right and guys, you know, I'm trying to figure out where guys are going to be. If I can get to them, if they can get to me, whether it's for a day or whether it's for a week, just being able to throw with all the different guys that came through. Couple more. What do you think the expectations for this team should be? Obviously, we want to go out there. We want to win the division, obviously, number one. And then number two, obviously, is go out there and win a Super Bowl. I mean, that's what every team is out here preparing to do, you know, coming through OTAs and camp and everything. But we want to go out there and we just want to get better. Like I said before, we want to progress. And everything that we do, whether it's mentally, physically, as a team, emotionally, we want to progress. We never want to be complacent and stay where we're at. We obviously never want to go backwards. As you mentioned, like with the draft, it's kind of cool to be on this side and say, hey, I wonder who can come in and help us the most. Do you follow in at all? Do you find yourself thinking I have to throw the ball? Hand the ball to that guy or face that guy, you know, across the line of practice? Do you pay attention? Do you think about those things? I mean, yeah. And then, you know, just as quickly as you pay attention and think about them, you put yourself in the position of last year where, you know, you saw mock drafts out the window and this and that. So you take it with a grain of salt and kind of just, you know, give a quick glance and a picture about it and then kind of move on to the next thing. But no, obviously it is interesting to see, you know, what's out there and who people think and what everyone thinks and what people think we should do and this and that. So it'll be fun come draft night. Yeah, talk to you since you got the deal. What was it like, you know, knowing that you're going to be here for an extended period now and get the big hefty contract there? Just incredibly grateful. Super appreciative of it and that was the biggest takeaway. So I just celebrated with my family but then know that that, you know, comes with a bunch of responsibility. So I'm ready to go but again, super grateful, thankful. I mean, it's life changing for my whole family. So incredibly grateful to the staff and Mr. Blank. And getting back in here, yesterday in the off-season program, what has that been like and what are some of the early goals and objectives as you move into this off-season? Yeah, the longer I've been here, the quicker the turnaround feels but it was fun. You get to like the middle of March and you just want to kind of get back. You kind of feel lost. You miss the guys, want to get out there and practice. So it's really fun and this phase one is to really, or at least my mindset towards it is to, you know, focus on individual development, strength and conditioning, and then better understanding of the playbook as this OTA goes and really kind of work the mental and small technical details during this time. So really another huge aspect of it too is to grow relationships with your teammate. So especially new guys in the room, guys on the team and just continue to work that. Thank you. Chris, when you talk about being one of the highest paid officers in the league, like, I want to take you back to like when you first came in as a rookie, did you see yourself being here or was that a goal of yours to be good enough to be able to be paid in that manner? I think you, or at least the mindset that, you know, guys have told me in the way I try and do everything is, you know, take everything day by day and so like you dream of playing, you know, your high school football player, you dream of playing college and then you get a college offer and you're just incredibly grateful for it. Then your goals shift and you're like, you know, I want to, you know, be a starter in college. You know, you get that, play your career and my dream has always been to be in the NFL. And then through that combine process, you know, you just take everything step by step. So it was like, you know, combine was getting the best shape I can to run and then you go to the next phase of it. And so when you get drafted, you know there's expectations of, you know, what's expected of you, but you really can't focus on that. And so really what I always try to focus on was make sure that the guys in the room, really offensive line room first and then, you know, the team overall knew that I was being the most prepared I could be and giving it my best effort every single day that I stepped foot in here. And so I don't think really anything else like that changes, but just know the kind of the same thing applies. How did you feel when you found out Katelyn McGarry was going to be around for a few more years? You know, that's my guy. I'm incredibly grateful and lucky really that to play next to a guy for four years, and then, you know, for both of us to be able to be re-signed is huge. You know, we have a great off the field relationship, but our on the field, you know, professional relationship is huge too because you work with the same person every day. You have a feel for communication for one another, you know, each other's strengths and weaknesses. And I feel like we really have that. And so just really lucky to be able to continue to work that. But I felt like the draft all over again where I was fortunate enough to get signed. And then I'm just kind of waiting for my guy wanted the best thing for him. And so when he came back, I was really, really excited. What do you got? Who got the active boot burst when we all got the contract? I just gave him, well, he texted me. And then, you know, I don't want to, you know, he's going through it. I didn't really want to bother him, but I was just checking in on him as a friend. And then I was super excited for him. Gave him a call the next day, let him celebrate with his family. Desmond is going to be the starter. How does that maybe change what this off season looks like for you guys in terms of prep versus maybe the unknown? Or not having a guy that you weren't familiar with? You know, Des was incredible last year in his way that he approached everything. And then now he's super excited for the opportunity that he has. But his communication, leadership and like command and the huddle as an offensive lineman is something that we know that he brings every day. And so just kind of what I said earlier, the great part about these OTA is really to be able to develop that relationship. And really even the small things of his tone of voice and timing up his tone of voice and like how he's going to do different things is really important as an offensive lineman. So it's going to be really fun to work on those small things. When you look back at the four game stretch that he was a starter last year, what was your biggest impression he made in those games that gave you guys confidence that he can't be the guy going forward? Yeah, I mean he had four games and four opportunities where those were really competitive games. And to go on the road in your first game is, you know, that's hard. And especially in New Orleans, that's a really tough environment. And like I said, the command and presence he had in the huddle, it was awesome. And his ability to communicate, and that's all you can really ask for is an offensive lineman, is if he's communicating what he wants or what he thinks and what he sees to us, then it's our job to go out and execute. And he does a great job. He's a great teammate, great guy, you guys know that. So just, you know, continue to work those small things, those OTAs. Chris, last year the offensive line in the unit really kind of elevated from two years ago and helped establish the identity of the team really. What is the kind of objective for the unit overall going into next year? Where do you feel like you can build upon from last year? We just, you know, we got to keep getting better. You know, obviously we don't have the quarterback in hit. And so that starts at a fundamental standpoint of, you know, starting with myself and everybody improving that, you know, individual techniques, small things about it. And then to the schematic points of now, it's all, you know, at least the guys up front, you know, it's a lot of us. It's our third year in the system. So we should all really have a great understanding and we definitely do of what the coaching staff is asking of us. And then being able to problem solve in the game or in situations where things come up and be able to know and get ourselves in the right position. And that's definitely the case. We're super lucky that everybody in our room really knows the standard of how we want to go about every day. It's super fun. I mean, we have really, really awesome culture on our whole team, but in our O-line room it's really special. And so it's guys who really love playing football come out, work as hard as they can every day, and then play physical. So it's so much fun and I'm really appreciative to be a part of it because it makes the season fun. Is there a bit of a different dynamic this year because there's more continuity on the offensive line going into next season? Because I remember on the first day of training camp, I think Arthur said that three of the five spots on the line were up the grabs for, you know, open competition. And it seems like now some of those positions are a lot more settled this year. Does that change anything for you guys as a group going in as you work to prepare for next season? I mean, Coach Smith always talks about competition drives everything. And so even, you know, myself, there's zero complacency with anything. And so we're just going out working every day. And but to just settle on what we did, it wasn't good enough. You know, we didn't make the playoffs and we have obviously higher aspirations. So just to continue to work like that every day. And there's so many things to improve, you know, even Caleb and I four years together. There's combination blocks we can improve. We can tighten stuff up. There's things that, you know, improve individually, but then tying in with each other in a, you know, Alex Mackinac told me it's really, really boring being good at offensive line play because it's like the same things over and over and over again. And so like it's kind of repetitive, but like, but that's like how you become better. So just working that small things like just your hands the same combination block. We have literally thousands of reps banked with each other, but hopefully banked thousands more to keep improving. Is it boring to you? Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Just checking. Yeah, no, no. There's a lot of speculation that this office is outside of the building about the Falcons quarterback situation. Is it going to be dead? How much attention do you pay to that? Do you keep an ear out? Do you kind of nod? Do you ignore it completely because you feel like you know what's going on? I definitely ignore it completely. Obviously, my job is just to play right guard, you know, and you know, whatever's asked me is to play offense flying. So that's really all I'm consumed about. And it's like kind of funny because I'll have family. Like my immediate family knows like not to send me things. I don't know anything, but like you have like extended family will send you something. I'm like, yeah, it's great. I got it out for shifter too. So it's just like, like, you know, you don't really, you know, pay attention to that stuff. You know, you go in more of a friend role where you're just like really thankful if a guy leaves for your time together. But then also you're happy for them for their opportunities. And then, you know, like with Kayla back, I was super fortunate to have him come back. So you just you're really thankful. And, you know, you're more of a friend there than really like looking into anything. When all these other signings were happening, you know, guys coming in these veteran, you know, people that they keep signing. What's your perspective on that? Is that kind of like, OK, that's going to help us kind of continue to build this culture? What did you kind of think of some of those things? There's guys you respect and admire, you know, played David for four years. And he's one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL, in my opinion. And somebody who's really, you know, you don't hear his name out there that much. But, you know, every guy who plays offensive line that played him was like, you know, you got to be ready for that guy. And, you know, Kalaeus is I don't even know how many many years, but he's still one of the top defensive linemen. So it's really cool when you like respect and admire guys and then you see the way they play. And you know that just from watching and then have those guys in the building is really cool. Your head spinning the first one. You have no idea what's going on here in a new city. Now it's like, you know, you're kind of comfortable. You know how the process works and you can kind of just focus on anything like it slows. It definitely definitely slows down where you're trying to learn everybody's name in the building where now it's like you kind of know everybody. You're not worried about that. So just things kind of slow down, I guess. Chris, being the first guard to get a hundred million dollar deal. What does that mean to you, especially knowing what it's going to mean for your peers moving forward? Just super, super, super thankful. And I'm thankful for the guys who came before me. There's so many guys who set the standard to build upon. And so I really hope that, you know, guys for pass it and guys, you know, continue to grow. And it's good for the position, which is good for everybody. So I'm super thankful. There's so many great players that came before me. And you just build and build and build off that foundation. So I hope I get to be that someday for somebody else. But it doesn't feel real most of the time, honestly. But just, again, super thankful. And I know the long term impacts that it has. So thankful really to the staff and to Mr. Blank. So is it fair to say that you see yourself as a leader then for this offensive line? That you see yourself as that guy? I don't know. It's like, you know, year four, I love the guys, love Jake. I mean, Jake's obviously the guy in our room. But I just try in the way I kind of look at his like, and, you know, Jake's my friend and really admire the way he does it. But he just came in every day, quiet, working on his thing. And like the way he goes as a professional is the way he leads. So that's kind of, I guess, this is the way I'll try and do it. I'm not very vocal, but in the same sense, like I just try and be the best professional I can be every day. And then, you know, guys take whatever they want from it. But I'm super excited. And then just in a support sense, I'm always there to support guys whenever they need anything. Chris, when we talk about Arthur Smith has been a former offensive line. How do you feel like he's benefited you, if at all? Not only being a head coach, but also being a play caller as well. He definitely understands the position. He understands the challenges that certain plays put us in. You know, every play in the NFL, somebody's got a harder job than somebody else. And coach understands that. He always trying to put us in, you know, as good a position as we possibly can. And so even if something bad happens or he kind of sees that during the league, he'll make an adjustment to always kind of protect us. And he tells us, too, we always try to put us first or look through our mindset, which as a player, you're super thankful for. And we have an unbelievable staff, really thankful. And I think you guys around the building every day know, like, there's true belief in everything that we do here from players to coaches. So it's, again, really thankful and love it. Chris, when did you change since the contract? I mean, have you been able to have a big purchase, go on a trip or do anything? Yeah, nothing, you know, everything changes, but nothing really changes. So I just, I vested everything. So I bought a, I did buy a tractor about John Deere tractor for my house and in the off season of plow. So I'm kind of excited about that. But yeah, yeah. Yeah, so, so like I would drive by a dealership in the off season all the time. And then like I told my like Maddie, my fiance, I was just like, you know, I definitely want one of these. She's like, yeah, okay, okay. Then I finally got the tractor. Can I, can I finally go? And she's like, yes, we'll go look and like stop it and looked and they were, they were super helpful. So I got it. Gonna plow this off season. That's like my fun thing to do is mow the lawn and plow. So it's like very, very simple.