The Atlanta Falcons' pursuit of Deshaun Watson didn't ultimately net them their next franchise quarterback, but it did cost them the most accomplished player in the history of the organization.
Three days after Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns, Matt Ryan was dealt to the Indianapolis Colts, ending a 14-year run with the Falcons. And the 2016 NFL MVP isn't mincing his words -- had the Falcons not shown interest in Watson, he likely would still be in Atlanta.
"Had none of this gone down? There’s probably a chance — a pretty good chance," Ryan said on The Ryen Russilo Podcast, as noted by Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons.
"But it did, you know? So when it does, when the situations change and the circumstances change… You know, I had always thought, like everybody, when you’re drafted there, and you play there, this is where I’m going to play my entire career. For 14 years, every day I woke up, it was to try and help the Falcons win a championship. And that had been reciprocated on the other end for me. And so when that changed, I had to look into it."
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Ryan seemingly wanted to spend his entire career with the Falcons. However, the Watson report gave him an excuse to check on what else was out there. And for as loaded as the AFC is, the soon-to-be 37-year-old unquestionably has a better chance to win the Super Bowl title that has eluded his grasp with the Colts than he did with the Falcons.
Meanwhile, Terry Fontenot, Arthur Smith and the Falcons get to use 2022 to determine how to proceed at the quarterback position. Perhaps former No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota will take his second chance to be a starting quarterback and run with it. The team's third-round pick in 2022 -- former University of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder -- will get a chance in his rookie year to demonstrate that he could be the long-term answer at quarterback for the Falcons. And if the Falcons don't walk away from 2022 with the feeling that they currently employ their next franchise quarterback, they can roll the dice again in what's expected to be a loaded class at the position in the 2023 NFL Draft.
While there may need to be some fences mended eventually between Ryan and the Falcons, there's a fair case to be made that him being traded was the best move for all parties involved. Those who got burned the most by Ryan ending up with the Colts were probably Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo, as another starting quarterback seat was filled while they wait to figure out where they will be playing (and what their role will be) in 2022.
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