Will the Atlanta Falcons trade Matt Ryan to the Colts?

It wouldn’t be an Atlanta Falcons off-season without unfounded speculation continually flying around Matt Ryan. On what has seemed to be a daily basis this off-season Ryan has found his way into trade rumors or speculation in one of the busiest quarterback markets in recent memory.

This week has highlighted that fact with the Aaron Rodgers signing, Russell Wilson’s trade to Denver, and Carson Wentz being shipped out of Indianapolis. The Colts’ decision to move Wentz to Washington after one failed season was surprising and speaks to the new aggressive approach teams and players are employing at the position.

The Wentz trade set off a round of internet speculation as to who the next quarterback in Indy could be? One surprising name that seemed to be brought up by pure speculation was Atlanta Falcons veteran quarterback Matt Ryan.

There is no reason for the Atlanta Falcons to consider moving Matt Ryan to the Colts this off-season

As this site and many others have covered Matt Ryan is in for a monumental $48-million cap hit. The result of the team and Ryan moving money to attempt to create more cap space and build around their veteran quarterback in previous seasons.

Trading Ryan even after June 1st does very little to ease his cap hit and even if traded he would remain Atlanta’s largest cap hit. This is the first reason that trading Matt Ryan to the Colts isn’t going to happen.

The second is the fact that the Colts have already spent draft assets in recent seasons and will be without a first-round selection this season. Atlanta would have to get at least one first in any potential deal for Matt Ryan.

The third reason Atlanta won’t deal Ryan is simple, who would replace him? We are in an increasing age of player mobility something that is great for the sport and for anyone that loves a busy off-season.

However, at times to facilitate trade ideas one can glance past the facts. The facts here are Ryan is on a deal that leaves Atlanta little incentive to trade him without a clear upgrade at the position. An upgrade that isn’t available to the Falcons.

Even if you want to argue that Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, or Matt Coral would be a better answer Atlanta will have a chance to either pick or trade up to select any of the three without trading Ryan.

Indy lacks the needed pieces to acquire Ryan even if the Falcons were willing to deal the veteran. There is no reason to think the Falcons have any intention of trading Ryan, and even if they did there are far better fits than the Indianapolis Colts.