After 14 seasons as the franchise quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, the team has agreed to trade Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. The Falcons will receive a 2022 third round pick in exchange for the 36-year-old veteran.
Ryan has been a staple for the Falcons organization and will, by most accounts, go down as the most significant player to suit up for the team. The veteran quarterback holds franchise records in every major statistical category since being drafted by the Falcons with the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Boston College.
News of the Falcons' interest in moving on from the veteran quarterback became readily apparent after reports surface of their interest in Deshaun Watson late last week. The Falcons were the presumed front-runners for Watson, but in a shocking twist, he opted to go to the Cleveland Browns at the last minute for a fully guaranteed deal.
Then came the question of what the organization should do with Ryan, a fixture for the team over the last decade and a half. The team fielded calls throughout the last few days in advance of Ryan's $7.5 million roster bonus that was due Monday at 4 p.m. ET.
Ryan is still owed $54 million over the next two seasons.
The native of Exton, Pennsylvania finishes his tenure with the Falcons as a four-time Pro Bowler, the AP Rookie of the Year in 2008, and a First-Team All-Pro in 2016. Ryan was also named the NFL MVP in 2016, as he helped the Falcons to an appearance in Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots.
