FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Jake Matthews walked into the Atlanta Falcons' facility Tuesday and sat down in a meeting. Admittedly it was a little bit strange. The left tackle had spent eight seasons inside the Falcons' buildings, and there had been a sense of consistency, a sense of familiarity. Not with everyone, but at least with those who led.

Then came Tuesday, and it was all changed. Quarterback Matt Ryan had been traded to the Indianapolis Colts. Long-snapper Josh Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.

And there was Matthews, at age 30, now the longest-tenured active Falcon.

“It’s kind of weird realizing, I’m like, the oldest guy here,” Matthews said. “Sometimes I feel like I just got here. So, kind of funny how fast it went by but, overall, really exciting and optimism, I’d say, is the biggest thing.”

He has seen things with the Falcons -- coaching changes and general manager changes, playoff success and multiple losing seasons. And in the midst of a roster overhaul, it’s something Matthews is now going to have to deal with in what has been an offseason of change in Atlanta. Besides Ryan and Harris’ departures, receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for at least a season for gambling. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett was not present at the first day of the voluntary offseason workouts and is entering the final year of his contract with an unknown future.

The team has taken on more than $62 million in dead money.

There are as many new faces in the building, it seems, as returning ones. Which has led to Matthews needing to take on a bigger voice within the franchise. He began doing that in earlier years within the offensive line, where the Falcons have often had young players surrounding him – including four starters other than Matthews still on their rookie contracts last season.

Now, with a team in flux in terms of its personnel, he has become more of a voice of understanding and reason within the entire roster.

“As I become the longest-tenured guy here, you don’t really have a choice,” Matthews said. “And, you know, I feel like I’ve grown into it pretty well.”

That didn’t mean Matthews stood in the room giving a massive speech or anything dramatic. But rather continuing with his own consistency. Explaining the rules and type of team philosophy second-year coach Arthur Smith began to instill last season.

It means maintaining a serious-minded approach while allowing for a little bit of fun here and there, which is how Smith tried to run things a year ago. To stress that snaps are earned, not given, and to handle yourself like an adult.

Which Matthews tried to bring in the first workout of the post-Ryan years, which began in 2008 when he was drafted.

“Just got so many new faces,” cornerback A.J. Terrell said. “I wasn’t really focused on any of that, but those guys that are gone now will definitely be missed. But they all helped set the platform of what we got now to carry on the legacy of the Falcons, so we’ll be good.”

Matthews has been one of the constants within Atlanta’s building. He’s also the rare player with the Falcons whom the franchise is trying to build around. While the Falcons were shuffling their roster and initiating a change at quarterback with the failed attempt to trade for Deshaun Watson before trading Ryan, Matthews signed an extension through the 2026 season.

Matthews said conversations about the future at quarterback were not really brought up -- the deal was agreed to a week before Ryan was moved and around the same time it became publicly known the Falcons were pursuing Watson -- but it was more about what he could do in Atlanta.

The money on the contract realistically keeps Matthews with the Falcons through at least 2024, so he’ll be one of the guys to build around. And it was something Matthews was excited about. Matthews said he wasn’t thinking much about an extension at the end of last season, but his agent, Ryan Williams, told him Atlanta was interested in a new deal.

“I couldn’t be happier. I love it here. I love what we have going on with our Arthur, both Arthurs, [owner] Arthur Blank and Arthur Smith,” Matthews said. “And you know, I just jumped at the opportunity. I’m happy to be here long term and looking forward to the future here.”