2021 NFL Draft: 3 options for Atlanta Falcons first round pick

Contract situation of QB Matt Ryan

Perhaps the biggest thing holding the Falcons back from a clean break with Ryan is his current contract situation, which makes him an extremely hard asset to move.

Ryan is impossible to cut, carrying an almost $50 million dead cap hit if released next season. After next season there is an out in his contract that carries $26.5 million in dead cap, which can be manageable to move on from a then 37-year old quarterback.

If you want to move on from Ryan earlier the only option looks to be through a trade, which is a bit of an unknown market. Sure there are teams out there that would thrive with Ryan at the helm but at what cost would they and the Falcons part ways with? Maybe with a new general manager in the building we will have more information on the team’s outlook moving forward but right now it is all unknown.

If the Falcons want to move on from Ryan a trade will likely be the best route to go, but the question remains, would the return they get be worth the trade? Is Ryan worth multiple first round picks or would it be this year’s first and some day two and three picks thrown in there? This off-season will likely give us more information but for now it is fun to run through the scenarios in your head. Of course, there is always the option of drafting a quarterback to develop and sit behind Ryan for a year.