During an offseason in which numerous quarterbacks could end up changing teams, it's fair to wonder whether the Atlanta Falcons will be looking to move on from 35-year-old Matt Ryan.
The Falcons own the fourth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft coming off a 4-12 season, the franchise's third consecutive losing campaign.
However, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, don't expect the Falcons to blow it up and deal the veteran QB or 31-year-old wide receiver Julio Jones:
From Super Bowl Live: Amidst a crazy offseason for QBs, don't expect the #Falcons' Matt Ryan to go anywhere. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/8AWQ1kmE7i
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 2, 2021
Atlanta fired head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff in October. Both men, along with Ryan and Jones, helped lead the Falcons to an appearance in Super Bowl LI.
In January, the team hired former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as its new head coach. Over the past two seasons, Smith helped revive QB Ryan Tannehill's career at age 30, turning him into one of the most efficient (and highest-paid) signal-callers in the league.
Smith's work helped Tannehill earn a $118 million deal that pays him $29.5 million annually — slightly below Ryan's current $150 million deal that will pay him an average annual value of $30 million until 2024.
Ryan completed and attempted more total passes in 2020 than in any of his 13 seasons in the ATL, but he took over 40 sacks for the third straight season. Overall, he tossed 26 touchdowns against 11 interceptions and contributed to multiple late-game miscues.
Jones was limited to nine games and 771 yards in 2021 — his first season with fewer than 14 starts and 1,394 receiving yards since 2013.
The Falcons hired Terry Fontenot away from the New Orleans Saints to be their next general manager.
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