The Falcons are apparently receiving at least some trade interest in quarterback Matt Ryan. However, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports hears that clubs that have inquired on the four-time Pro Bowler are getting the “distinct impression” that he will not be dealt (Twitter link).
Thus far, the Seahawks have turned away all teams interested in trading for signal-caller Russell Wilson, and while Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is said to be torn on whether he wants to remain in Green Bay, there is a good chance that both players stay put in 2022. Couple that with a collegiate quarterback class that has some promise but no surefire stars, and Atlanta would theoretically be in a good position to net some draft pick compensation in a Ryan trade, compensation that could help usher in a new era for the franchise.
That is especially true given Ryan’s relatively modest base salaries of $16.25MM and $20.5MM over the final two years of his contract. Even when considering his age (he will be 37 in May) and the $7.5MM roster bonus he is due later this month and in March 2023, a team that believes it is a quarterback away from title contention might be willing to pull the trigger. The Commanders, who are leaving no stone unturned in their search for a quality QB and who recently made a strong push for Wilson, could be one such club, and the Steelers could be another.
From Atlanta’s perspective, though, the prospect of a trade is a bit messier. As a result of multiple restructures, the most recent of which GM Terry Fontenot begrudgingly made, Ryan’s dead money charge for 2022 if he were to be cut or traded prior to June 1 is a whopping $40.5MM. Even a post-June 1 transaction would result in a dead money number just shy of $25MM, and that’s not to mention the fact that HC Arthur Smith wants Ryan back. Indeed, the NFC South could be wide open in 2022, and Smith may feel that, with Ryan under center, he might be able to nab a division title.
On the other hand, even if Atlanta were to earn a playoff berth, it does not presently profile as a legitimate championship contender. Although a $40MM+ dead money charge would be tough to swallow, a Ryan trade or release prior to the $7.5MM roster bonus coming due on March 19 would also give the Falcons an additional $8MM of cap space to work with, and it would allow them to start afresh in 2023.
The team is already eyeing a Ryan succession plan, and if rival clubs are interested in making a deal, it may be in Fontenot’s best interest to think long and hard about accelerating that plan.
Ryan’s contract seems to be pretty in line with his talent. Atlanta’s not winning anything with or without him. Trading him would make sense. Time to rebuild.
I agree. Do Ryan a favor and trade him to a competitor.
The cap issue in Atlanta is one that other teams need to study and use as an example of how not to manage a team. Ie, don’t repeat what Atlanta has done. Under no circumstances should Atlanta be as bad as they are and be where they are in terms of cap space. I’m all for trading Ryan to create some cap space, but having 40 mil in dead money is crippling. I suppose you keep him and bite the bullet the next couple seasons. He’s worth that money on the field, but falcons have to rebuild by getting the financials in check first
My guess is they will hold on to him for 1 more year and trade him next offseason and start the rebuild. Also need to know if Ridley is ever coming back…..
There’s 31 more teams you could of said that headline for
Trade him as soon as you can. Nothing against Matt, but it’s time to transition to a new guy. Maybe you could acquire the new guy this year and use 2022 as your transition year. But that will mean that Ryan is another year older next year.
Good they’re gonna keep losing then
Ryan certainly could net Atlanta good returns this offseason, and he’s likely too old to be around and still effective by the time their next rebuild is complete. With Ridley and Jones both gone, I’m also not sure who he has to work with on the offense. The line also needs work, and the Falcons could use an upgrade to their run game. Ryan is pretty much all the Falcons of value on offense outside of Kyle Pitts. He has an enormous cap hit, but one wonders if it may be worth it to absorb that in a year where the Falcons s already won’t be competitive for the sake of extra valuable picks.
Ryan’s value would be pretty high for a team that misses out on Rodgers or Wilson, and arguably is capable of the same relative level of results right now as anyone with the exception of Rodgers. I would wonder whether it may be a better idea for the Falcons to bite the bullet now and trade him while his value is boosted and use the picks to add cheap talent to a rebuilding team.
Saving $8 million in cap space would barely net the Falcons enough to sign even a low-end NFL starter to replace Ryan, and they have far too many other holes. They would have to get back significant draft capital to help fill those holes (getting players better than what they could get for league minimum salaries, so not day 2 types).
As sad as it is, trading Grady Jarrett is probably more realistic to help turn over the roster. They could get him to sign a back end loaded extension, but then that just means they are playing the same cap game with him that they did with Ryan, and teams should be adverse to doing that unless they are legit SB contenders. It just crushes your future.