If Arthur Smith has his way, Matt Ryan will be the Falcons starting quarterback in 2022. Per Chris Mortensen (on Twitter), the Falcons HC is a proponent of Ryan and wants him under center next season.
Specifically, Smith wanted Ryan as his QB when he joined the organization last offseason. Per Mortensen, the coach has made his fondness for Ryan clear to owner Arthur Blank and general manager Terry Fontenot.
It’s been four seasons since Ryan and the Falcons finished with a winning record, but the veteran QB was still managing to put up numbers. That wasn’t necessarily the case in 2021, as the 36-year-old’s 3,968 passing yards and 20 touchdowns were among the lowest of his career. To top it all, the Falcons once again finished below .500 at 7-10.
There have been rumblings that the Falcons could pursue a replacement at the position, with many pundits believing the organization could look toward the draft. The team avoided the position during last year’s draft, and while they could reconsider during the 2022 draft, the rookie class isn’t filled with a bunch of future starting QBs. Further, considering the money that the Falcons still owe to Ryan, the team might not even have a choice when it comes to the former MVP’s future with the organization; rather, they might just be stuck with him.
He’s not going anywhere. Unless he reworks the deal and gets traded to a competitor, very unlikely.
In Ryan’s defense he didn’t have Calvin Ridley for most of this season. Unfortunately the Bulldogs winning the collegiate championship will result in added pressure falling on the Falcons to produce better results.
I don’t think Matt Ryan is a bad QB definitely better than any prospect in this draft. They just don’t have anything to build on. No receivers, no cap space, not enough talent from previous drafts.
Go. To. Denver.
Opt out. Sign with Denver. Theyve got weapons and a defense.
Please take him, Denver!
But do we want him as starting qb? Honestly? No… time to rebuild… this team has been bad and bad for a while
No QB will succeed with that offensive line.
Holding on to Ryan will never help you to get better. Trade him to somewhere he has a chance to win, Denver?
It’s hard to imagine any rebuilding teams wanting to give up draft capital for a QB who will be 37 by the time next season starts. He could conceivably be a stopgap solution for the Steelers while they search for Roethlisberger’s replacement but even that is a longshot scenario.