ATL Standard

Matt Ryan had another productive year as an Atlanta Falcons quarterback despite operating without top wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage much of the season.

Atlanta also lacked a reliable running game. Still, Ryan completed 375 of 560 passes for 3,968 yards and 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and finished with a very respectable 90.4 passer rating. The Falcons managed to increase their season win total by three games under first-year head coach and play-caller Arthur Smith. 

"Matt proved that he didn't have to do it with nothing but first-rounders out there," Smith said on the team website Jan. 14. "I think that says a lot about a quarterback."

Ryan will likely return next year to chase his first Super Bowl ring in what would be his 15th season as the Falcons quarterback. Trading him would be difficult given what SI.com projects as the league-highest 2020 salary cap hit – $48.7 million – that the acquiring team would have to absorb. 

Releasing him would be expensive. Ryan has two years left on the five-year, $180 million deal he signed in 2018, though he might be willing to restructure the deal to give the Falcons more financial flexibility to surround their franchise quarterback with additional talent.

Then there's the matter of his successor. Backups Josh Rosen and Feleipe Franks threw just 12 passes last season, leading to speculation that Ryan's eventual replacement is not yet on the roster.

Atlanta holds the eighth pick in the 2022 NFL draft, scheduled for April 28-30.