Matt Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons sit in the worst position a team can hold in professional sports. They're neither good enough to be considered a legitimate contender nor bad enough to be in the conversation for next year's No. 1 overall pick.

Yet the team didn't commit to either direction this offseason.

Instead, the organization chose to rework Matt Ryan's contract to its own detriment and passed on an opportunity to find a long-term starter behind center, opting for tight end Kyle Pitts with this year's fourth overall pick as the class' top non-quarterback prospect.

Also, the Falcons caved and traded star receiver Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans.

Something Stealers Wheel sang long ago applies to the Falcons' relationship with the team's all-time leading passer:

Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with you
Stuck in the middle with you
Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you

The combination of keeping Ryan, passing on Ohio State's Justin Fields and moving on from Jones doesn't make sense. It's a scattershot approach based on flawed logic.

The Falcons should have bitten the bullet this year, understood they had to endure Ryan's exorbitant salary-cap charge and moved on a year from now with a future franchise quarterback tied to the new regime. It never happened.

Pitts is an exceptional talent who should thrive under head coach Arthur Smith's supervision. But the franchise's lack of foresight at the game's most important position while working its way through salary-cap issues placed it in a difficult position.

General manager Terry Fontenot knew it too:

"We knew when we stepped into this that we were going to have to make some tough decisions, because it's just the reality of it. That's where we are with the salary cap. So we have to make some difficult decisions so we have to look at all the different options and all the different scenarios. And so, if someone calls about any player, we have to discuss it and do what's right for the team. That's what we're always going to do. But we hold that player in high regard, we just have to look at every option to get where we need to get."

Atlanta moved on from a large group of veterans based on financial restrictions caused by the lowered salary-cap number. Center Alex Mack, running back Todd Gurley II, guard James Carpenter, utility lineman Justin McCray, defensive lineman Allen Bailey and safeties Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal are no longer with the squad.

The Falcons weren't active in free agency either. Running back Mike Davis signed the only deal longer than one year and for more than $3 million.

Fontenot and Co. renegotiated Ryan's deal to get the team under the salary cap at the onset of the new league year. The move achieved part of the goal since the team was approximately $16 million over the number prior to the move and Ryan's restructured deal created $14 million in space, per WSB Channel 2 Atlanta's Zach Klein.

At the same time, the move hamstrung further options, especially if some thought existed of a potential Jones trade. Knowledge of the wide receiver's intentions apparently became clear months earlier, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The idea of trading the seven-time Pro Bowl selection—which they ultimately did—should have been in the team's back pocket, knowing his departure would create $15 million in salary-cap space after a June 1 trade.

Atlanta is now $16 million below the cap (prior to getting the rookie class under contract), per Spotrac.

The team had to be under the mandated number when the new league year opened, and Ryan's contract became the most obvious target. But other possibilities existed, like reworking Grady Jarrett's deal (on top of doing the same with Jake Matthews earlier in the offseason) and cutting a handful of other veteran contracts.

Would the roster have taken a significant hit with that approach? Absolutely, and that's the point. Ryan would have been the starter for one more year or until Fields was ready to take over the offense.

Yes, the incoming decision-makers were saddled with multiple bad contracts. However, the new general manager and head coach lacked the vision or fortitude to navigate a difficult transition. Now, they're stuck.

They're stuck with Ryan, whose salary-cap charges exceed $43 million in each of the next two seasons. The Falcons will be forced to eat $24.9 million if he's cut or traded after June 1 next year.

A trade may have been possible without a restructured contract. Atlanta could have saved $23 million by agreeing to a move after June 1 of this year. But that possibility never had a chance to materialize.

The Falcons are a year behind where they should be with the start of a full-blown rebuild. This isn't a philosophical discussion. Coaches, players and, yes, front-office personnel want to win. Even so, the practicality of investing in a franchise quarterback prospect made sense from the start.

A discrepancy emerged during the evaluation process. Fontenot wanted to take a quarterback with the fourth overall pick, albeit North Dakota State's Trey Lance, while Smith thought he could squeeze a couple more years out of Ryan, per ESPN's Chris Mortensen (h/t The Falcoholic's Evan Birchfield).

Fields was never a consolation prize, even though he fell to the 11th overall pick. His natural ability reached or surpassed the first three quarterback prospects off the board.

In fact, Fields graded as the most accurate quarterback prospect since Pro Football Focus started evaluating collegiate players. His CPOE (completion percentage over expected) trumped Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Joe Burrow—all of whom heard their names called with the first overall pick in their respective draft classes.

Fields ranked first in his class in working from a clean pocket and throws past his first read.

Once the 22-year-old's athleticism and toughness factored into the equation, he could have easily been a top-three selection. Instead, a handful of teams passed on a massive talent, potentially to their detriment.

Early returns in Chicago are promising.

"Everything that we thought he was going to be when he got here with learning and being obsessed with everything that we teach him and then being able to be himself out on the field—he's really doing things in a really good way," Bears head coach Matt Nagy told reporters Wednesday.

Running back David Montgomery added: "Justin is definitely a freakish athlete, to say the least. He already kind of carries that leader mantra that you rarely see in rookies that I know I didn't have."

Fields signed his fully guaranteed rookie contract Friday. While the Bears are elated and ready to move forward with the new face of the franchise, the Falcons enter another year of uncertainty with no shortcut to fixing the problems they faced this offseason.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is looking to focus on the task at hand despite star receiver Julio Jones' being mentioned in trade rumors.

After Jones told Shannon Sharpe he's "out of there" on Monday's episode of Undisputed in reference to the Falcons, Ryan discussed the situation on The Athletic Football Show (h/t The Athletic):

The reality is because of his level of success he's had in his career, this is a major story. But within your locker room, this is constantly happening to guys where you're not sure how long they're going to be there. 

... It's difficult. It's the part of the job that sucks, but you have to just stay in pocket of focusing on we're all here right now, and we all got to focus on what we're going to do together right now.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Jones asked for a trade a few months ago and the team agreed to listen to offers.

The Falcons would save $15.3 million against the 2021 cap by trading Jones after June 1, per Spotrac, and there would likely be significant demand around the league by that point.

The 32-year-old has earned seven Pro Bowl selections in 10 years, tallying at least 1,300 receiving yards in six of the last seven seasons. His 95.5 receiving yards per game are by far the most in league history.

Jones has also been Ryan's go-to option for much of the past decade, helping the quarterback win the MVP award in 2016 on the way to a Super Bowl appearance.

"I hope he's here. He's been such an awesome teammate," Ryan said of Jones, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "Really, and I;ve said this before, I don't think anybody has impacted my career as significantly as him. I've been very fortunate to ride along with him for 10 years."

Atlanta would still have exciting weapons even without Jones—including Calvin Ridley and first-round pick Kyle Pitts—giving Ryan plenty to work with in 2021.

Matt Ryan would prefer the Atlanta Falcons keep Julio Jones amid trade rumors for the star receiver, although the quarterback understands the business of the NFL.

Ryan discussed a potential Jones trade with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated:

I hope he’s here. He’s been such an awesome teammate. Really, and I’ve said this before, I don’t think anybody has impacted my career as significantly as him. I’ve been very fortunate to ride along with him for 10 years. So we’ll see what happens. But I also don’t want to get involved in anybody else’s business. That’s for him to handle.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported prior to the NFL draft the Falcons were receiving calls about a potential trade for Jones, although a deal is unlikely to happen until June 1 because of salary-cap implications.

The Falcons would be left with $23.25 million in dead cap in 2021 if Jones were traded immediately, but the team could spread $15.5 million of that to 2022 after June 1, per Spotrac.

It means Atlanta would save $15.3 million in cap room for next year with a deal while likely returning key assets to build for the future. Breer projected the Falcons could receive a second-round pick in a trade.

Jones is also coming off a year where he missed seven games because of a hamstring injury while Calvin Ridley showed he can be a true No. 1 in his place. After adding tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 pick of the draft, the Falcons still have the pieces to thrive offensively even without Jones.

Ryan would obviously love a chance to throw to Jones, Ridley and Pitts in the lineup together, but it might not be in the best interest of the team long term after a 4-12 season.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said Tuesday wide receiver Julio Jones, who's been the focus of trade rumors leading up to the 2021 NFL season, has "impacted my career more significantly than any other player."

Ryan also called Jones "one of the best to ever do it at his position:"

Peter King of NBC Sports reported last week there's a 60 percent chance Jones is traded by Labor Day, which is Sept. 6, six days before the Falcons open the regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders are among the potential landing spots for the seven-time Pro Bowler, per KOA's Benjamin Allbright.

Jones' name previously entered the rumor mill leading up to last season's trade deadline, but he said at the time he wasn't looking to get moved when asked.

"No," Jones told reporters in October 2020. "I play football. I know who I am. I know what I got going on. I know what I mean to this team."

The 32-year-old University of Alabama product was limited to nine games in 2020 because of a hamstring injury. He finished the year with 771 receiving yards, which marked the first time since 2013 he didn't top 1,000 yards.

He's still a game-changing player when healthy, as he showed with 137 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings last October.

Atlanta's receiving corps, which is among the NFL's best with Jones joined by Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage, would take a hit if the two-time First Team All-Pro is eventually traded. Olamide Zaccheaus would likely get the first crack at filling the void in three-receiver sets.

In the bigger picture, trading Jones would be the first step toward ushering in a new era for the Falcons, which would also include at some point moving on from Ryan, 36, whose contract runs through 2023.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan reportedly believes he has "several good years" of football remaining in his career.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday on SportsCenter that the Falcons could be comfortable with Ryan as their franchise quarterback beyond this season, saying:

"[Matt Ryan] has told multiple people close to him, in and around the Falcons, that he feels he has several good years left, that he can still play at a high level. So, the Falcons did extensive homework on Trey Lance and the other quarterbacks that they considered with the fourth overall pick. But they believe, and they're totally comfortable rolling with Matt Ryan for this year, possibly longer. They feel they have weapons, Kyle Pitts now, a quarterback-friendly system with new coach Arthur Smith and it should be an improved defense. So, this is a team they feel they'll be on the rise and Ryan will be better-positioned to have more success."

Ryan has been the Falcons' starting quarterback since they selected him with the No. 3 pick in the 2008 NFL draft. He's been named to four Pro Bowls and won the 2016 NFL MVP, but the Falcons haven't recorded a winning season since 2017. 

Atlanta went 4-12 in 2020 and was in position to draft a franchise quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick but instead selected Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. The team also chose to keep veteran wideout Julio Jones despite trade rumors, signaling plans to move forward with the current core—at least for the 2021 season.

The cap ramifications of moving on from Jones and Ryan become far less problematic next offseason. Atlanta would save $8.1 million from its cap by trading Ryan and $3.8 million by moving Jones in 2022.

It seems likely the Falcons would shift to a larger-scale rebuild next offseason if the team fails to make a significant improvement under first-year coach Arthur Smith. 

The Atlanta Falcons will have the opportunity to draft a quarterback with the No. 4 pick of the 2021 NFL draft, but it might not necessarily be a need with Matt Ryan still on the roster.  

"For what it's worth, the buzz around the NFL has been that [general manager Terry] Fontenot and [head coach Arthur] Smith are comfortable going forward with Ryan, if that's where Atlanta lands," Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported. "But if the right quarterback falls here? Who knows?"

Breer also noted Fontenot has done "some relationship-building" with the veteran quarterback.

One factor that could signal a rebuild, however, is the potential trade of Julio Jones. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Falcons have "received calls" about a trade for Jones, even if it's unlikely he is moved until after June 1 for "cap reasons."

Peter King of NBC Sports also said it wouldn't be surprising if the Falcons put the framework together for a trade effective on June 2.

The Falcons are coming off three straight losing seasons including a 4-12 mark in 2020. The team could be looking for a fresh start under new coach Arthur Smith, which would include drafting a new quarterback in Round 1 (possibly Trey Lance or Justin Fields if they get past No. 3). Trading Jones would likely signal a rebuild and an eventual departure for Ryan, who turns 36 next month.

However, the team also has an option to stick with the quarterback and build the rest of the roster.

Ryan has only missed three starts in his 13 years in the NFL and remains effective under center, finishing 2020 with 4,581 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. 

The contract that runs through the 2022 season will also likely prevent any immediate movement. He is near impossible to move this year, and the Falcons would be left with $40.525 million in dead cap if he is traded or released next offseason, per Spotrac.

It could lead to Atlanta taking another impact player such as Florida tight end Kyle Pitts and worry about quarterback in the future.

Teams have reportedly contacted the Atlanta Falcons about a potential trade for wide receiver Julio Jones.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported a deal cannot happen until June 2 because of the Falcons' cap constraints, but interested parties have been gauging Atlanta's interest in moving on from its franchise receiver.

Peter King of NBC Sports mentioned the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans as potential suitors. A framework of a trade could be put into place and then officially agreed upon when the Falcons could split Jones' cap hit over the next two seasons.

Moving on from Jones in a post-June 1 trade would save the Falcons $15.3 million on their 2021 cap. Atlanta is currently less than $1 million under the cap with draft picks yet to sign, meaning some additional moves are going to be needed to give the team breathing room.

Trading Jones would make some level of sense if the Falcons were planning to begin a rebuild. They could theoretically move on from Matt Ryan after the 2021 season—though it'd be more financially beneficial to wait until 2022—and may wind up tipping their hand in Thursday's first round.

Conventional wisdom says the draft does not begin until the Falcons' pick at No. 4. The Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers are locked into quarterbacks with the first three picks, meaning Atlanta could take the best non-quarterback available, dip its own hand into the quarterback pool or trade back with a team perhaps looking for a signal-caller of its own.

If the Falcons use their first-round pick on a quarterback, the writing's on the wall. Ryan would likely enter the 2021 season as a starter but with a giant "for sale" sign over his head, and the Falcons could look to move Jones for 2022 draft picks as the retooling around their new franchise face begins. 

Calvin Ridley proved himself more than capable of being a WR1 last season, and the 26-year-old fits far better with the timeline of a new quarterback than the elder statesman Jones, who turned 32 in February.

Julio Jones, 32, remains the standard-bearer for all wide receivers because he's physically different and is capable of taking over a game at a moment's notice. 

After years of watching Jones record premium production, the Atlanta Falcons can transition to yet another potential standard-bearer at another position. 

Florida's Kyle Pitts, 20, is different than any tight end prospect in recent memory. It's even unfair to designate him as a tight end when he should be viewed as the top offensive weapon in this year's draft class. 

Because of Pitts' enormous talent, the Falcons have a potentially franchise-changing decision with the fourth overall draft pick. 

Atlanta has spent a significant amount of time evaluating this year's quarterbacks, as it should. But the approach is more than just due diligence.

On Monday, the Falcons sent quarterbacks coach Charles London and scouting director Dwaune Jones to Trey Lance's second throwing session after general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith attended the first, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. A Falcons contingent made an appearance at Justin Fields' second pro day as well, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. 

Atlanta should be in the quarterback market. Matt Ryan turns 36 next month, and the veteran has salary-cap charges exceeding $43 million in 2022 and '23. Plus, Smith's hire this offseason doesn't guarantee the longtime starter will return to an MVP-level performance. 

NBC Sports' Peter King reported he's hearing "owner Arthur Blank is fascinated by the quarterbacks atop the draft." The time is right for the Falcons to make a bold move and select the next face of the franchise if they are enamored with a specific prospect.      

If not, King added that Blank won't "force a decision."

Atlanta isn't in an all-or-nothing scenario. The team is sitting at what will become the unofficial start to the 2020 draft in Cleveland. The first three picks are all but guaranteed to be quarterback prospects. The first real uncertainty—beyond which QB the San Francisco 49ers actually want—begins at No. 4. 

Nothing is off the table. Atlanta could take a quarterback, trade down or sit in a prime position to take who it believes is the best position player. The final option appears to grow more likely with each passing day.

Breer discussed the possibility of Atlanta selecting Pitts:  

"One, the asking price for a team to get up to No. 4 is high, as you'd expect it would be after what the Dolphins got for the third pick. Two, it's been pointed out by a few people how the Matt Ryan contract restructure makes it more difficult for the Falcons to move on from him not just this year, but next year too—and how if they were looking to set up a quarterback transition, they'd be more likely to take their cap medicine now."

Once those two possibilities are laid out, the choice becomes obvious. 

Atlanta already has two first-round offensive tackles in Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary. Wide receiver isn't a need with Jones and Calvin Ridley already on the roster. Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell, LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and Alabama's DeVonta Smith are wonderful talents but don't necessarily make sense. Meanwhile, no defensive player is counted among this year's top five or six prospects. 

Besides, an argument can easily be made that Pitts is the best non-quarterback prospect in the class. 

"Best I've seen since Kellen Winslow out of Missouri. Such a fluid guy," Pro Football Hall of Fame evaluator and NFL.com contributor Gil Brandt told King. "The size and speed will be a huge matchup problem in the NFL."

Think about what Brandt said for a moment. For context, he started as a full-time scout in 1958. He helped shape one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history with the Dallas Cowboys. His impact through the scouting community can't be adequately described. And he hasn't seen a tight end prospect quite like Pitts since Kellen Winslow Sr. entered the league 42 years ago. 

To put that into perspective, a significant portion of the NFL's fanbase has never seen a tight end prospect of this magnitude.  

The aura around Jones' selection wasn't quite the same because the NFL already had its unicorn at wide receiver in Calvin Johnson. Even so, Johnson may be the only prospect to supersede Jones in regard to the wow factor. 

Jones is 6'3" and a sculpted 220 pounds with nearly 34-inch arms, a 42-inch vertical and a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. He's one of the most physically gifted individuals to ever play the game. His performance reflects his talent level. He's recorded 1,100 or more receiving yards in every campaign he played 15 or more games. 

Like Ryan, Jones is aging and has a significant salary-cap hit. His charges exceed $19.2 million in each of the next three seasons. Six months ago, some around the league wondered if the wide receiver would be shopped during the trade deadline, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler. Those thoughts start for a reason. 

Adding to the uncertainty, the Falcons' all-time leading receiver missed seven games in 2020 because of injury. Eventually, his body will start breaking down.  

Instead of waiting for that to happen, Atlanta can be proactive. 

Pitts would bring a similar presence to the lineup. He's a 6'6", 245-pound target and ran an unofficial 4.4-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. 

"I would just say probably a hybrid-type thing," Pitts told NBC Sports' Brother from Another when asked about how he fits in today's game. "You know, being able to do everything on the field, being able to be in-line, hipped off, backside, playing receiver, in the bunch, outside. So just hybrid means just everybody, everywhere." 

Pitts can do it all. He can plan in-line and not become a liability like other pass-catching tight ends in the past. He's at his best working from the slot or even as the lone receiver to one side. Defensive backs don't have the size to match up with him, and linebackers can't move as he does. He's nightmare fuel for opposing defensive coordinators. 

Eventually, the reigning John Mackey Award winner can become the focal point of a team's passing attack, much like the Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce and San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle already are. But a different type of opportunity exists in Atlanta. 

In the short term, a duo featuring Jones and Pitts would be absolutely unguardable. Throw Ridley into the mix, and Ryan could experience a career season thanks to an embarrassment of riches. 

Eventually, Jones would give way to Pitts as the game's greatest mismatch. The Falcons will then be prepared for the franchise's next starting quarterback because the offense will already have its next go-to target. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.

Matt Ryan has become almost synonymous with the current iteration of the Atlanta Falcons, but the NFC South team may look to find its future signal-caller in the upcoming NFL draft.

Peter King discussed the Falcons' options with the No. 4 pick in his Football Morning in America column and reported "owner Arthur Blank is fascinated by the quarterbacks atop the draft, thinking the franchise might not be in such an advantageous position to take one for years."

However, King pointed out that "Blank will not force a decision" and instead will allow head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot to make the ultimate call.

Atlanta certainly has a number of options, and the luxury of this year's draft is there may be five quarterbacks worthy of taking with such an early pick.

Even if the Jacksonville Jaguars take Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, the New York Jets take BYU's Zach Wilson and the San Francisco 49ers take a quarterback with the first three picks, the Falcons would be left with two of three options from the group of Alabama's Mac Jones, Ohio State's Justin Fields and North Dakota State's Trey Lance depending on who San Francisco selected.

They could also look to take an offensive weapon at a different position, such as Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, or trade down with a team in desperate need of a quarterback, such as the Chicago Bears.

There is also the Ryan factor, as he turns 36 years old next month and has a potential out in his contract for 2022.

Atlanta could decide that his best days may be behind him at this point and look for a new quarterback, but he also threw for 4,581 yards and 26 touchdowns during the 2020 campaign and didn't appear to be slowing down much.

His presence shouldn't preclude the Falcons from taking a signal-caller, as someone like Fields could sit behind the four-time Pro Bowler who has a league MVP and Super Bowl appearance and garner valuable knowledge and experience from the veteran before eventually taking over a few years from now.

Blank apparently recognizes the opportunity the Falcons have with a top-five pick in a quarterback-heavy draft, and what Atlanta ultimately does will have a domino effect on the rest of the first round as other teams scramble depending on how many signal-callers are still remaining after those first four picks.