The Atlanta Falcons are poised to hire a new general manager with the futures of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones looming large. Regardless of who is hired as the next general manager of the Falcons, team president Rich McKay says they won't be forced to keep Ryan and Jones, per The Athletic's Jeff Schultz and Tori McElhaney.

Both Ryan and Jones have been cornerstones of the Falcons together since the 2011 season when Jones was a rookie. Ryan has been with the team since 2008, giving them a form of stability at the quarterback position for the past 13 seasons.

However, Atlanta is no longer a winning franchise, which has led them to begin discussing the possibility of parting ways with Ryan and Jones. Even though the next general manager of the Falcons will ultimately make the decision, which could keep both of them in Atlanta, McKay doesn't want them to feel tied to keeping them either.

Jones and Ryan are under contract until 2023, so they can be likely moved only via trades. The longtime quarterback of the Falcons carries nearly $120 million in cap hits over the next three years, which could make it tough to find a possible suitor for him.

On the other hand, Jones has a little over $60 million in cap hits in the next three seasons. And with Jones having injury issues this season, finding a team to take on his contract could present a challenge for Atlanta.

It's evident that the Falcons are preparing to enter a new era in their franchise's history starting in 2021. Despite the contributions they've given the organization over the years, the days of Ryan and Jones playing together could be numbered.