The retooling Atlanta Falcons passed on drafting a top quarterback prospect in April, opting to stick with 14-year veteran Matt Ryan for the 2021 season. Not surprising news, considering his cap hit and overall contract situation.
And although Ryan's long-term future with the franchise remains uncertain, Falcons first-year head coach Arthur Smith has valued Ryan's leadership and experience on and off the field. They share a common vision.
"Matt is the ultimate pro, and he's got big goals for himself and he wants to prove himself every year," Smith told the Tiki and Tierney show on Thursday. "That's the challenge every year in the NFL. You can't just rest on what you've done in the past. Matt has a great mindset, comes in here and works. He's not a guy who's barking out and then all of the sudden wants to be coddled. He wants to be coached hard, and he works hard.
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"I feel very fortunate, here in year one, to have a veteran quarterback who can lead like that. And he loves being in Atlanta -- he takes a lot of pride in being a Falcon. He's done really well for this organization, and he wants to continue to do that for the next couple of years... We feel good about our chances to improve, and hopefully we have a shot there at the end to get into the dance."
Ryan, who's missed just three career games since 2008, will play for his fifth different offensive coordinator this year. In 2020, the 36-year-old completed 65-percent of his passes for 4,581 yards with 26 touchdowns, and ranked fourth in the league in total yards. But Ryan's laudable numbers rang hollow, as the Falcons finished 4-12 overall and last in the NFC South standings.
After a disastrous 0-5 start, the Falcons fired head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. In mid-January, the organization hired Smith, who spent the past two seasons as offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. Five months later, the franchise traded star veteran receiver Julio Jones to Tennessee in exchange for future draft picks.
Ryan won't be without weapons this fall, however. Calvin Ridley will now serve as Atlanta's top receiver, and first-round rookie tight end Kyle Pitts is currently a top Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.
Atlanta will open the 2021 campaign at home against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 12. According to the William Hill Sportsbook, the Falcons currently have the third-best odds (+900) to win the NFC South.
The entire Falcons conversation between Smith and Tiki and Tierney can be accessed in the audio player above.