After the blockbuster deal between the Rams and Lions for Matt Stafford over the weekend, many Falcons fans wondered how much they could get for Matt Ryan if the Lions got that much for Matt Stafford.
But not every trade and not every trade scenario is created equally. Ryan, even if traded, wouldn't net the Falcons nearly as much as the Lions got, a deal that included a pair of first-round picks.
Take an unbiased look at the players involved, Stafford and Ryan, and why their values differ.
By the start of the next football season Stafford will still be just 33 years old, while Ryan will turn 36 in May.
Matt Stafford is signed for two more years with base salaries of $9.5 Million and $12.5 Million. Ryan's base salaries for the next three seasons sit at $23 Million, $16.25 Million, and $20.5 Million.
There's also the on-field questions of Ryan's game (arm strength) possibly diminishing and whether Stafford can stay healthy for a full season.
The unspoken aspect of the deal is the Lions not only acquiring QB Jared Goff in the trade, but also agreeing to take his contract from the Rams. You should consider taking Goff's salary on as a reason for the second first-round pick, not Stafford.
Stafford isn't worth as much as the Lions got, half of that deal was for Goff's salary, and Ryan would have cost less than Stafford in a move anyway. So don't expect anything like that haul if the Falcons do find a trade partner.