If the Atlanta Falcons feel compelled to draft Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields -- or any other top quarterback prospect -- with the No. 4 overall pick in late April, they'll need to find veteran Matt Ryan a new place to play in 2021.
Why? Because the franchise can't take on the financial burden of keeping both quarterbacks.
"It makes absolutely no sense," Tiki said during Tiki and Tierney show on Friday. "We had a similar conversation with the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, who has the highest cap number of, I think any player in the NFL... And they drafted a quarterback in the first round, but that quarterback was back in the 20's, where the money is more manageable for a, 'We think he's going to be good but he's still a project-type player.' If you're taking a quarterback at No. 4, he's making significant money. And compounding that on top of Matt Ryan's money, it puts the percentage of the quarterback room at probably like 22 or 25-percent, which in untenable.
"When I keep hearing these things, 'Oh, they're going to take a quarterback at No. 4 and they can't really move off of Matt Ryan or don't want to move off of Matt Ryan, we'll give it a year and then we'll figure it out'... that makes no financial sense at all. And so the only way I can see the Falcons taking a quarterback at No. 4 is if they're trading Matt Ryan before the draft. What this [draft rumor] sounds like -- and I keep bringing this up, because it happens every year -- it's all, 'Hey, if you want one of these top-four quarterbacks, come trade with us.' That's what this rings of."
To back up Tiki's argument, Tierney broke down some critical information regarding Ryan's contact.
"Dead cap money, 2021: $65 million. $65 million!" Tierney said. "2022: $41 million. 2023: $15 million... How do you draft a guy -- I don't care how promising that player is -- and nail him to the bench for two years while Matt Ryan makes that kind of money? And again, Tiki's point is an incredibly important one. It's one thing if you're messing around [draft pick] No. 22 or 25 -- the Ravens' last pick in the first round a couple of years ago -- you can justify that financially. Monetarily, you can kind of squeeze that in. You can't do that with the fourth overall pick. You can't do it."
Fields, who turned 22 this past March, is the third overall prospect on Pro Football Focus' NFL Draft big board. Due to COVID-19 and a restructured Big Ten conference schedule, Fields only played eight games this past season. But, he threw for 2,100 yards and 22 touchdowns, rushed for five scores, and led the Buckeyes to a national championship game appearance.
According to Spotrac.com, the estimated total value of the fourth overall pick's contract is $31.1 million, and the estimated signing bonus is $19.9 million.
The entire conversation between Tiki and Tierney can be accessed in the video and audio players above.
You can follow the Tiki and Tierney Show on Twitter @TikiAndTierney and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.