Monday marked the end of an era with the Falcons trading Matt Ryan—Atlanta’s all-time leader in career touchdowns (367), passing yards (59,735) and completions (5,242)—to the Colts for a third-round pick in next month’s NFL Draft.
Ryan replaces Carson Wentz, who lasted all of one season in Indy, continuing the revolving door that began when franchise quarterback Andrew Luck shocked the football world with his sudden retirement in 2019. While Ryan may not be the dominant force he was in 2016 when he was awarded MVP in a landslide victory over runner-up Tom Brady, the 36-year-old remains an upper-echelon NFL starter and a sizable upgrade on Wentz, who cost the Colts a playoff spot with his meltdown at Jacksonville in Week 18.
During their late-season collapse, the Colts were exposed as one-dimensional, with most of the offensive burden falling on second-year running back Jonathan Taylor (league-high 332 carries). Ryan’s arrival alleviates that concern, though his receiving corps, led by elder statesman T.Y. Hilton and rising star Michael Pittman Jr., leaves the veteran little margin for error. Beyond Hilton, who is going on four years without a 1,000-yard season, and Pittman, a feast-or-famine type who logged just one touchdown over his final eight games in 2021, there’s not much to be excited about with Texans castoff Keke Coutee, injury-prone draft bust Parris Campbell and undrafted D-II product Ashon Dulin rounding out the Colts’ wide receiver depth chart.
Ever the problem-solver, Pro Bowl linebacker Darius Leonard, the recent recipient of a five-year, $99.25-million extension, may have stumbled upon a clever solution.
Released after one injury-plagued year with the Titans, Julio Jones would be a shrewd signing for the Colts, especially given his history with Ryan, connecting 848 times for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns over 134 games together in Atlanta. It’s debatable how much Julio has left in the tank—he was largely a non-factor over his 10-game stint in Tennessee (31-434-1 on 48 targets). But he wouldn’t cost the Colts much and if anyone can revive the 33-year-old’s stagnant career, it’s Ryan, his Falcons teammate from 2011-20. As far as reclamation projects go, you could do a lot worse than a seven-time Pro Bowler with 13,330 career receiving yards, easily the most among active players.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram