The Indianapolis Colts may soon find a new quarterback now that the quarterback market is clearer. The Houston Texans have traded quarterback Deshaun Watson ...
Ballard has to remember what he lost in the Carson Wentz trade originally. Indianapolis should not be investing a ton into getting Matt at this point. The fact is Matt is going to retire sooner than later. Has that changed all of a sudden? We are entering year six of the Ballard/Reich era and will be starting a fifth quarterback in 2022. There are a few quarterbacks that could be traded like Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Taylor Heinicke.
The latest name to be connected to the Colts at quarterback is current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan is a four-time Pro Bowler and a former NFL ...
If Ryan were to be traded before his roster bonus is due, the acquiring team would then pay Ryan’s $16.25 million salary plus the $7.5 million roster bonus for a total cap hit of $23.75 million in 2022. If Ryan plays poorly in 2022 and the Colts want to move on after just one season, as they did with Wentz, there would be a dead cap charge in 2023. In 2023, his salary is $20.5 million with a roster bonus of $7.5 million meaning his total cap hit would be $28 million. The question of compensation and what it would take to acquire Ryan will certainly be a very important factor as well. The team has determined that it would be worth it to obtain the services of Watson. The Colts would be able to handle Ryan’s contract without any issues. Before the Falcons got in on the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, it was reported the Falcons would be restructuring Ryan’s contract once again, converting $15 million of his base pay and roster bonus into a signing bonus to free up cap space. If the Falcons move off of Ryan after his roster bonus has been given, the dead cap charge balloons to $55.5 million. If the Falcons move off of Ryan before his roster bonus is due, they would be charged a dead cap value of $43.5 million because of past guarantees and restructures. On Friday, it was announced that the Falcons had agreed with Ryan to push his roster bonus of $7.5 million that would have been due on March 18 to March 22, giving the Falcons more time. If Watson decides he wants to play in Atlanta, the Falcons would move off of Ryan and trade him. When discussing a trade for Ryan, one of the main talking points is the massive contract the other team would be taking on.
Despite not landing Deshaun Watson, the Falcons could still deal their franchise QB.
The best part for the Falcons is that the Colts are in the AFC, so they wouldn't have to worry about playing Ryan's new team until 2023 at the earliest. In 2016, Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Falcons in a season where Ryan ended up being voted MVP. Ryan would be an instant upgrade over Lock and the type of upgrade the Seahawks need if they want to compete in what should be the toughest division in the NFC. Remember, unlike Baker Mayfield -- who demanded a trade after the Browns made a play for Watson -- Ryan sat quietly in the background while Atlanta did its best to try and bring in his replacement. If the Falcons want to do what's best for Ryan, then they'll do everything they can to make sure he ends up in Indianapolis. The Colts feel like a team that's one good quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender and Ryan definitely qualifies as a good quarterback. After 14 seasons in Atlanta, Matt Ryan could finally be on the move.
The Falcons seem to be the team Deshaun Watson has already chosen, given Matt Ryan's willingness to push off a roster bonus three days, which gives me the ...
Ryan has the upper hand after the Falcons tried and failed to get Watson. Will the 36-year-old former MVP stay or ask to be traded?
This would allow Ryan one more season to play and win in Atlanta while also preparing his eventual replacement for the future. In this scenario, especially if everyone understands the endgame (even if they don’t discuss it publicly), the Falcons can bring along their future at a reasonable pace while Ryan can get one more season to figure out where his own future might play out. It shouldn’t -- and would be another piece of risky business by Atlanta, but if the Falcons want to make their quarterback happy while keeping him in Atlanta, perhaps that’s the way to do it. Ryan may have started to do his research and found that another team -- perhaps the Indianapolis Colts or Seattle Seahawks -- is a more palatable option at this stage of his career, and closer to winning. If Ryan wants a trade at this point, the Falcons would almost have to grant it. For the past 14 seasons, he has done all of those things right -- including this week, when he kept quiet even as the Falcons were very publicly going after an immediate succession plan no one saw coming.
The Atlanta Falcons have found a way to create new off-season drama for themselves after making the highly questionable decision to chase Deshaun Watson.
Whether or not Ryan is willing to absolve his team’s decisions remains to be seen. If he demands a trade and the Falcons attempt to move him Ryan will be the one deciding where he ultimately lands. Now it is Ryan deciding what his future will look like, where is the perfect landing spot for Matt?
The soon-to-be 37-year old figures to be on the trading block if the Falcons acquire Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. Ryan carries a massive cap hit, one ...
If that happens, expect the Matt Ryan domino to fall quickly as the Falcons don’t want to be on the hook for the additional $7.5 million. Or will they continue to wait patiently as the quarterback market still figures itself out? Ryan is due a roster bonus, which has seen been pushed back through this weekend in hopes that Watson will make a decision and a trade can be worked out.
Officially, Deshaun Watson is on the Texans and Matt Ryan is on the Falcons. Unofficially, neither look to be true for long.
If Cleveland is hoping to compete for the next few years, it needs a quarterback. The Browns and Baker Mayfield appear headed to a messy divorce. After all, the Colts made a bold decision to trade for Carson Wentz last offseason. That is good money for a backup but doesn’t indicate he’s clearly the starter. While at some point fans will say goodbye to Matt Ryan, right now one of the (many) questions is where will Ryan end up? Things have obviously changed quickly with Ryan as well as the direction of the team.
Everyone is waiting on Deshaun Watson to choose his trade destination and with that going on, veteran quarterback Matt Ryan has emerged as a potential ...
Ryan would be viewed in the same light as Philip Rivers was in 2020. Ryan’s performance struggled during the 2021 season but some might be willing to chalk that up to a lack of support around him. None of these options would keep the Colts from drafting a quarterback in April.
Seattle could use him, as could Indianapolis. The Texans need a better quarterback. The Panthers are begging for a franchise player at the position. He'd be an ...
He simply had to say no. He had leverage. How could he not be?