With a roster bonus deadline looming, the Atlanta Falcons have traded longtime quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. The move ends an era for the Falcons and gives the Colts a chance to start fresh after the debacle that was the Carson Wentz era.
Done deal: The #Falcons are trading former NFL MVP Matt Ryan to the #Colts for a 2022 third-round pick, sources tell me, @RapSheet and @MikeGarafolo.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 21, 2022
Falcons are trading QB Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts, sources tell @diannaESPN, @mortreport and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 21, 2022
The Falcons will receive a 2022 third-round pick from the Colts for Ryan, who has spent his entire 14-year career with them. He has two years remaining on the five-year, $150 million contract that he signed in 2018. Having Ryan as a dependable stopgap for the next two seasons might be all the Colts need in order to give themselves some stability as they set their sights on their quarterback of the future via the draft or free agency.
The Colts traded Wentz to the Washington Commanders in a move they had been preparing for long before it happened. The franchise gave up a lot for the quarterback and his inability to get them into the playoffs was enough to make them want to move on quickly.
Ryan was expected to be traded as soon as reports leaked last week that the Falcons wanted to pursue Deshaun Watson. The franchise even pushed back a deadline to pay him a $7.5 million roster bonus today in order to leave room for that deal to happen. Even though it didn’t, it was still apparent that the franchise was ready to move on.
Ryan will go down as arguably the best quarterback in Falcon’s history, holding several NFL and team passing records, including the most passing yards by a quarterback over his first 14 seasons in the league. He was named league MVP in 2016, a season in which he led Atlanta to the Super Bowl. The Boston College product has also been named to four Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2016.
Reactions to the trade came in swift and came in hot.
The Falcons don’t deserve Matt Ryan. https://t.co/HmyivTLqmm
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) March 21, 2022
There it is.
After 14 years in Atlanta, Matt Ryan is coming to Indianapolis. He’ll be the 5th starting QB in as many years under Frank Reich.
Ryan will be 37 in May & is a proven vet. While he isn’t the long term fix, he’s as good of a solution as you can get for now. #Colts https://t.co/6lXqMBS5er
— Taylor Tannebaum (@TaylorTannebaum) March 21, 2022
What an absolute steal for the Colts
I mean the Falcons got more in return for Mohamed Sanu!! https://t.co/hWEoPf2jHs
— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) March 21, 2022
Masterful work by Ballard to upgrade his QB spot and gain draft value in the process.
Important note: Doesn't undo the Wentz mistake. Colts still lost a year and a first round pick to the wrong QB.
Still, made up a lot of lost ground with these two deals. https://t.co/oAeBwCAR5a
— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) March 21, 2022
So in the span of about a week the Colts got rid of Carson Wentz, don't have to pay his contract anymore, and upgraded at QB with Matt Ryan while also adding another 3rd round pick that will likely become a 2nd rounder.
Not bad, Indy. Not bad at all. https://t.co/7Ge8MfZG9F
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) March 21, 2022
There are plenty more dominoes to fall now as this means the Colts won’t be the landing spot for Baker Mayfield. Meanwhile, Marcus Mariota, Jimmy Garoppolo, and other veteran quarterbacks are still out there as well. We’ll likely hear more about them soon.
