The Atlanta Falcons are expected to begin discussions with quarterback Matt Ryan this offseason about extending his contract with the team, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Falcons expected to consider contract extension for Matt Ryan this offseason
Ryan is poised to secure his future in Atlanta after the best season of his career.
Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
There are two years remaining on the five-year, $103.75 million extension Ryan signed with the Falcons prior to the 2013 season. Currently, Ryan is the 11th-highest paid quarterback in the NFL, but Rapoport said he expects Ryan’s agent, Tom Condon, to attempt to “eclipse” Andrew Luck’s six-year, $140 million deal.
Still, an extension may be beneficial to the Falcons in terms of the team’s cap space. Ryan is set to have cap hits of $23.75 million and $21.65 million in 2017 and 2018. An extension could bring those numbers down a bit in those seasons.
Ryan was drafted by the Falcons with the third overall selection in the 2008 draft, and he is coming off the best season of his career. Ryan finished the 2016 season with 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.
The Falcons went 11-5 and won the NFC South primarily on the strength of their dynamic offense, and a decisive win over the Seattle Seahawks in divisional play brought the team to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 2012 season.
After earning the fourth Pro Bowl nomination of his career and being named first-team All-Pro, Ryan is also expected to win the NFL’s MVP Award for the 2016 season. He may follow that up with a big payday that would secure his future with the team that drafted him.
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