Falcons Blunder

By : Mike Rifkin

The NFL’S quarterback carousel kept going on Monday as the Atlanta Falcons traded franchise quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2022 third round pick. Ryan, the third overall pick in 2008 is the Falcons all time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. 

The Falcons in 2016 went to the Super Bowl and blew a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots. The following season the Falcons made the playoffs, but haven’t been since. If you listen to the Wishbone Shotgun Podcast (cheap plug) I have been adamant for the last few years that the Falcons should trade Ryan. Because Matt Ryan is too good for that team to not be competitive. In 2019-20 the Falcons went 4-12 and were drafting fourth overall. The Falcons could have had Justin Fields or Mac Jones, instead opted for tight end Kyle Pitts. Last offseason the Falcons traded Julio Jones to the Titans and to me that should have been the signal to rebuild the franchise.  The Falcons in 2021 went 7-10, but what would their record be if Matt Ryan wasn’t there? By trading Ryan now the Falcons have a 40.525 million dollar dead cap hit, the largest in NFL history. Had the Falcons done this trade a few years ago the dead cap could have been less plus they could have gotten more value than a third round pick for the best player in their franchise’s history.