The Matt Ryan era in Atlanta is officially over as the Falcons dealt Ryan to the Colts in exchange for a third-round pick. The quarterback was sent to the Colts in exchange for a third-rounder which is a bit shocking when you look around the league and consider all the blockbuster trades that have happened around lesser quarterbacks.
Atlanta’s inability to get even a second-round pick while taking on the biggest dead-cap hit in league history makes this trade a slam dunk for the Colts. The Colts get a franchise quarterback and a leader while the Falcons get a third-rounder and a terrible cap situation.
Falcons are trading QB Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts, sources tell @diannaESPN, @mortreport and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 21, 2022
For the first time in a decade and a half Atlanta will now be searching for a quarterback and an answer at the most important position on the field.
Who else could follow Matt Ryan as the Colts make a push to contend in a packed AFC?
For Ryan and the Colts, the next step in this process is finding who will follow Ryan to a team looking to join the growing list of AFC contenders. Indianapolis will now become a consideration for the top remaining free agents including some familiar faces that could be looking to team back up with Matt Ryan.