The NFC South is ramping up with Tom Brady returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, it's rumored the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are the favorites to trade for Deshaun Watson. That leaves the Atlanta Falcons focusing on themselves, as the franchise made a key decision with Matt Ryan in mind.

According to Ian Rapoport, the Falcons are extending starting left tackle Jake Matthews. He receives a three-year extension for $52.5 million. This is a brilliant decision made by the front office, as Atlanta has secured their left tackle position for the next three years.

This of course is a big deal for Matt Ryan. He's not a mobile quarterback and it's important to get him proper pass protection. Even so, Ryan is a bit on the older side and the Falcons could be searching for a new quarterback sooner, rather than later. Extending Jake Matthews goes a long way, as he now becomes a building block whenever the front office searches for Ryan's replacement.

The Falcons played much better than expected last season and could be a surprise playoff contender next year. With Jake Matthews locked in for the long haul, Atlanta can now focus on other areas of need. The roster isn't in that great of a position, but we should see the front office make aggressive moves throughout the offseason.

We'll see how it all plays out, but the Falcons have set themselves up nicely in the long run. Matt Ryan is likely smiling from ear to ear, as he has his starting left tackle returning to the lineup once again.