NFC South talk: The Falcons may be drafting a QB after all (Article)

[WarPanthers89]

Arthur Blank reiterates that Matt Ryan, Julio Jones may not be back.

As the Falcons search for a new General Manager and head coach, owner Arthur Blank continues to send the message that the incoming hires won’t be bound to quarterback Matt Ryan and receiver Julio Jones.

“What I think is important, most important, is that we hire people who are, number one, the very best at their jobs,” Blank recently said during a season-ending press conference. “That goes without saying. Who will come forward with a plan for us to have a championship team, a competitive team, et cetera. And that may include Matt and Julio for now, for the next two years, three years, or may not. I have no idea.”

After the firing of coach Dan Quinn and G.M. Thomas Dimitroff, Blank made it clear that there’s no guarantee Ryan will return in 2021.

“Matt’s been a franchise leader for us,” Blank said at the time. “A great quarterback. One of the leading quarterbacks in the last 13 years in the NFL. So I hope he’s gonna be part of our plans going forward. But that will be a decision that I won’t make.”

Last month, CEO Rich McKay attached strings to the ability to move on from Ryan and/or Jones.

“Give us a plan,” McKay said. “Show us what you want to do and show us why. Show us how this gets us to Ws and make sure you actually execute the plan.”

So while Blank seems willing to defer the judgment to the new G.M. and coach, McKay seems to be willing to reserve the right to object in the event the “plan” for winning without them isn’t persuasive. That plan will include building a roster around a cap charge of $44 million (the cap number for keeping him would be $40.9 million). For Jones, the cap charge to trade him would be $23.25 million; the cap charge to keep him would be $23.05 million.

As candidates interview for both jobs, it becomes critical to know precisely whether they’ll have the discretion to move Ryan and/or Jones, whether McKay will be able to veto it, and/or whether McKay will roll his eyes at Blank if they handle that or any other decision in a way he wouldn’t.

Actually, they should assume the last part to be true. And those candidates, frankly, should before accepting jobs in Atlanta look for jobs elsewhere that give them a straight shot to ownership, with no one else in position to approve or to undermine the decisions that they make in the best interests of the team.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/01/06/arthur-blank-reiterates-that-matt-ryan-julio-jones-may-not-be-back/

[WarPanthers89]

Falcons currently have the #4 overall draft pick

[FakePlasticTrees]

My guess is that the Falcons do draft a QB in the first round. Ryan’s contract does not really affect their ability to draft an heir apparent on a rookie deal. Oh what might have been.......culture of winning nonsense......

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

We got dat winning culture instead

[Hoenheim]

So they'll end up drafting who we should have drafted and well be cursed to watch them set the world on fire in Atlanta while we struggle out of QB hell for years on end

Don't blame Rhule or the players . Blame Rivera for starting Dwayne Haskins 

 

 

[joemac]

LOL right - so they are going to take a 70 million dollar dead money hit next year to get rid of Julio and Ryan?  

[WarPanthers89]

I do believe they end up drafting one if they fall to them, so I won’t be upset if we trade to #3 to get our guy if we have someone that we feel can be our franchise QB.

[stbugs]

15 minutes ago, FakePlasticTrees said:

My guess is that the Falcons do draft a QB in the first round. Ryan’s contract does not really affect their ability to draft an heir apparent on a rookie deal. Oh what might have been.......culture of winning nonsense......

Ryan’s deal doesn’t. It’s a high enough pick that they could say screw it when will we have a top 4 pick again with maybe 3 QBs worth the pick. Keep Ryan for 1 year or trade him. Dead cap after 2021 is actually reasonable and if you can trade him the hit in 2021 is easily doable if you are in rebuild mode. People thinking the Falcons and Lion can’t take a QB aren’t looking at the actual contracts. Doesn’t mean they will but if a guy they want is there it’s not hard to move on. The Lions could easily move on from Stafford now if they want. Don’t even need to keep him in 2021.

[WarPanthers89]

2 minutes ago, stbugs said:

Ryan’s deal doesn’t. It’s a high enough pick that they could say screw it when will we have a top 4 pick again with maybe 3 QBs worth the pick. Keep Ryan for 1 year or trade him. Dead cap after 2021 is actually reasonable and if you can trade him the hit in 2021 is easily doable if you are in rebuild mode. People thinking the Falcons and Lion can’t take a QB aren’t looking at the actual contracts. Doesn’t mean they will but if a guy they want is there it’s not hard to move on. The Lions could easily move on from Stafford now if they want. Don’t even need to keep him in 2021.

Very true I see them drafting a QB and letting him sit and learn for a year (like I hope we are able to do), then let them take over after next season when Ryan’s cap hit is more manageable. With them being on a rookie wage scale they can take the hit the following seasons and it won’t hurt them from building a contending team. 

[FakePlasticTrees]

5 minutes ago, stbugs said:

Ryan’s deal doesn’t. It’s a high enough pick that they could say screw it when will we have a top 4 pick again with maybe 3 QBs worth the pick. Keep Ryan for 1 year or trade him. Dead cap after 2021 is actually reasonable and if you can trade him the hit in 2021 is easily doable if you are in rebuild mode. People thinking the Falcons and Lion can’t take a QB aren’t looking at the actual contracts. Doesn’t mean they will but if a guy they want is there it’s not hard to move on. The Lions could easily move on from Stafford now if they want. Don’t even need to keep him in 2021.

I think we agree. 

[TLGPanthersFan]

Ugh. Man I don’t want TB here anymore. Why did we have to win the at stupid Washington game. We are gonna be stuck in QB purgatory. 

[SmokinwithWilly]

So those of us that have been saying the Falcons taking a QB might not be crazy after all. 3 QBs could be gone in the first 4 picks. 

[WarPanthers89]

5 hours ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

So those of us that have been saying the Falcons taking a QB might not be crazy after all. 3 QBs could be gone in the first 4 picks. 

Looks like we may have to trade to #3 if we want a top 3 or 4 QB

[GoPanthers123]

Doesn’t make sense as they have a decent QB and massive holes all over the place.  If they want to continue to suck please do take a QB.