The Atlanta Falcons finished their 2020 season with a 4-12 record after an 0-5 start. Now, the organization can focus squarely on the future, starting with hiring a new general manager and head coach.
The people who occupy those two positions will have some serious decisions to make, including what to do with the team's biggest salaried and coveted positions in quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones.
The Falcons also hold the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The decision the future GM and head coach make in regard to Matt Ryan will play a major factor.
This is the first time in franchise history the Falcons hold the No. 4 pick. It's usually the position where a team would draft a quarterback.
"You've got an older quarterback in Matt Ryan. You're hopefully not going to have a draft pick this high anytime soon, ever again," Andy Bunker said. "When you have a draft pick this high, especially when you have a quarterback class as good as this quarterback class is, it's natural to wonder whether or not it's time to draft Matt Ryan's replacement.
"That comes down to if you believe 'no, we can build enough around Matt Ryan in the next couple of years to win a championship.' Or 'I'm not sure we can.
"I think we can build enough around Matt Ryan in the next couple of years to be competitive. But if we want to win a championship, I think it's time to think about a quarterback of the future and start building in that direction.'"
