The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to trade Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan in another stunning offseason move which revives their Super Bowl hopes.
Indy, which had been trading at +3300 odds to win the big game in Glendale next February, had a Super Bowl-ready roster apart from one position – the one that matters most. The Colts admitted that its experiment with Carson Wentz in 2021 didn’t work when they traded Wentz to Washington for a pair of third-round picks (one of which could yet become a second).
Colts looking for QB answer
The Colts though said after that ‘failed experiment’ that it would keep on swinging for the fences in a bid to find the longer-term answer under center. This remember is a franchise which once saw Peyton Manning pass the torch to Andrew Luck in around two decades of continuous excellent at the quarterback position.
And on Monday afternoon the latest swing brought in Ryan after Indy agreed a deal with Atlanta to acquire the former Pro Bowler for a third-round draft pick. Small potatoes in real terms and a move which saw the Colts’ Super Bowl odds immediately slashed to +2500. They are +1300 meanwhile to win the AFC Championship.
While Ryan, now aged 36, may not be the red-hot gunslinger who almost led Atlanta to a Super Bowl win in early 2017, he is still effective and a massive upgrade for Indy. He completed 68 percent of his passes in 2021 for 3968 yards, 20 TDs and 12 interceptions. This remember on an offense with no help at all at WR.
The Colts already have a powerful running game with Jonathan Taylor rumbling behind a stellar offensive line. And adding Ryan to breathe life into the passing game instantly makes the team a contender.
Matt Ryan Contract
The Falcons needed to make a trade by 4pm ET Monday to avoid adding a $7.5million roster bonus to Ryan’s already astronomical cap hit for 2022. It would have risen to $48.7million. The Falcons will still have to take on a huge hit in dead money, but at least they get some draft capital in return.
Atlanta, which burned several bridges with Ryan when it tried unsuccessfully to woo Deshaun Watson last week, had little choice following that hot mess but to consider trading Ryan. And now the deal is done.
The Falcons moved swiftly to fill the void left by Ryan’s departure by signing Marcus Mariota to a two-year deal.