Over the weekend, Falcons owner Arthur Blank made it clear that he is going to work on extending Matt Ryan as soon as he can this offseason. Blank knows what it might take to re-up Ryan, and that includes make him the highest-paid quarterback, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. 
Currently, the highest-paid QB in the NFL is Andrew Luck thanks to his five-year, ~$123MM extension signed with the Colts on June 29, 2016. But, after an incredible 2016 season, the Falcons are already thinking about setting a new watermark with Ryan. Ryan’s current contract takes him through the 2018 season, but Blank apparently does not want to get near that date before discussing a deal.
“When Matt was being interviewed this week, somebody asked him, ‘What do you think about Tom Brady, his age, being 39 and will be 40 in August?’ and Matt said, ‘I’d like to play as long as Tom,’ ” Blank said recently. “That’s when I jumped up off the sofa and starting clicking my heels. We have a lot of young talent on both sides of the ball. But to have our quarterback in place for an extended period of time will be incredible news for Atlanta. Matt is in great shape and takes wonderful care of himself. So, I’m excited.”
Ryan finished the year as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 quarterback in the NFL, second only to tonight’s opposing QB (Brady). Ryan has long been regarded as a solid starting quarterback, but this year he was undeniably in the top tier at his position.
As it stands, Ryan is scheduled to carry a $23.75MM cap charge in 2017 and a $21.65MM cap charge in 2018.
New Latest: Matt Ryan owns the Patriots. What a dominating performance. The Falcons are clearly a class head (at least one class, maybe two) of the Patriots.
You sure?
This just in, LGBT spoke too soon like Blank made it to the field to soon.
a game is 4 quarters long.the second half of the superbowl Ryan did not attack like he did in the first half..you can’t kill the clock on such a diverse team as the patriots
Brady is the best ever he could have put up 50 points with another 1 min on the clock. Take it to the bank.
still think so?
For Matt Ryan’s sake, I hope the falcons don’t hire Chip Kelly as OC. Hire someone internally and keep that great offensive gameplan intact. Chip Kelly will just mess things up
Agree 100%. The MVP of the NFL and soon to be Super Bowl Champ
A little too soon
Sure
Better hold off to the big contract Mr Matt Ryan
Atlanta Falcon choke big time
Atlanta coaching staff very bad
I don’t remember any professional choke that much???
Will some one please correctly me
Thanks
Mr Matt Ryan you better hold off your big contract
Because you guys choke
The Falcon coaching staff was terrible
Never in professional sports team after leading by 25 and still loose
Unless someone will correctly me
As a patriots fan, I disagree. Ryan led his team to the super bowl. He played really well, it was the defense that choked at the end. He’s an MVP and a Great QB. I don’t understand how that’s not good enough for you.
To me Ryan is a good QB who had a great year as opposed to a great QB. You start giving him a cap number in the mid 20s you are going to be very very sorry.
Not really. He’s borderline great. He won MVP for a reason. That said, he has some outstanding weapons to go along with him.
Nice troll.
But definitely, that defense showed their youth in the second half. No answer to Brady, and that Edelman catch definitely turned the tides for New England.
I still think they should sign him for long-term. They already have a good set of WRs in Julio Jones and Taylor Gabriel, plus a lot of youth in defense that will surely improve. As long as Ryan keeps doing what he’s doing, the team has shown than they can be contenders in this game.
Yeah in professional sports, with a 3-1 touchdown lead, no one could blow that! Who could blow a 3-1 lead??
WARRIORS
I agree Matt Ryan and the Falcon s had a great run this season just come a little short.I’ve been a life long Falcon fan so I have seen this movie before but I think they will grow from this we as true Falcon fans need to keep backing them like we have the last 7 weeks or so Great season Atlanta Falcon s.