Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are two of the greatest players in Atlanta Falcons history, but their future with the franchise remains uncertain.

Speaking to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, new Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said the organization is still in the process of going over the roster to determine the best path forward:

"No decision with personnel has been made right now. It's just so early. ... We're just not gonna make any snap judgments. There is a long process. We've got to get in here with staffs. We've got to go through every guy on this roster. And we're gonna take our time. There's no decision that has to be made today. And that's for everybody, it's not Matt and Julio, it's every player on this roster."

The status of Ryan and Jones has been a subject of speculation going back to the regular season. Team owner Arthur Blank told reporters earlier this month that he wouldn't stand in the way of the front office if they wanted to move either one of the franchise stalwarts. 

Terry Fontenot was hired as Atlanta's general manager on Tuesday. The 40-year-old spent the past 18 seasons working with the New Orleans Saints. He was their assistant general manager and vice president of pro personnel in 2020 after seven seasons as director of pro personnel. 

Smith takes over as Falcons head coach after spending the past two seasons as offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. 

Ryan and Jones have sizable contracts that could make them difficult to move. Ryan has a $40.9 million cap hit in 2021. Jones comes with a $23.05 million cap figure next season. Both players are signed through the 2023 season. 

Injuries limited Jones to nine games last season, but he still finished with 771 receiving yards on 51 receptions. Ryan led the NFL with 407 completions and 626 attempts. The 35-year-old finished fourth in the league with 4,581 passing yards and tied for 12th with 26 touchdowns. 

The Falcons finished last in the NFC South for the first time since 2007 with a 4-12 record.

A fresh start feels necessary for the Atlanta Falcons. 

The roster is aging in certain areas and won't get the same return the team once received from those veterans, especially at quarterback. 

With a new general manager and head coach about to take the reins after the franchise fired Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff in October, Matt Ryan's future with the franchise should be in question, though his potential departure won't come easily. 

The organization is in flux. It has reached the point where the once-untouchable Julio Jones appears to be a trade possibility, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. 

"I think there will be a lot of teams trying to swing trades—more sellers than buyers—because of the cap, and some big names will be available. I could see someone like that," an NFC executive speculated when speaking to Fowler about Jones.

The financial impact of the salary cap's drop to $175 million for the 2021 campaign from this season's $198.2 million high-water mark will create ripple effects through the league and serves as a good starting point when examining Ryan's marketability. 

The Falcons' biggest obstacle in making a switch at quarterback involves Ryan's ongoing five-year, $150 million contract, which still has three remaining seasons. The only realistic solution is trading the 35-year-old signal-caller after June 1, giving the Falcons a $23 million reprieve for 2021. Even in that scenario, Atlanta will take on the burden of $17.9 million salary-cap hits each for the next two seasons. 

For a possible suitor, the price tag isn't exorbitant, relatively speaking. Ryan's base salary next season is $23 million. The number ranks seventh in actual cash spent. It falls to ninth the following year. From that perspective, Ryan's salary isn't prohibitive, especially for a franchise in search of a win-now veteran.

Because of these financial factors, the asking price for a onetime league MVP shouldn't be much, and it's out of mundane NFL accounting that potentially interested parties will emerge. General managers look years ahead when molding their long-term strategy. The feasibility of trading for a quarterback like Ryan isn't likely for some because of their salary-cap situation, quarterback room or franchise direction. 

In Atlanta's case, the organization can move forward with a potential trade knowing three things.

First, a deal won't bring back 2021 picks or players because of the structure of Ryan's contract. Second, the return won't be gaudy but would still be reasonable as the franchise pursues another direction. Finally, April's fourth overall draft pick, which the 4-12 team is in line for, guarantees a quality quarterback prospect to marry with the incoming head coach instead of trying to repair a broken organizational foundation.

Obviously, the Falcons can't force their hand, but they sit in an excellent position to land Ohio State's Justin Fields or BYU's Zach Wilson, as long as the Miami Dolphins don't trade down from the third overall pick. Even then, North Dakota State's Trey Lance could come into play. (Note: We're assuming the Jacksonville Jaguars will select Clemson's Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick.) 

Three organizations jump to the forefront with a need at quarterback, the capability of winning in the short term as potential playoff squads and long-term financial flexibility. 

      

New England Patriots

The logical starting point for a trade partner starts with the franchise trying to reignite the flame of a burnt-out dynasty. 

The New England Patriots missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2008. Bill Belichick's squad finished behind both the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. The team's offense ranked 27th. Cam Newton, whom the franchise signed as a free agent last offseason, looked like a shell of his 2015 MVP self. 

So, why tread a similar path next season? 

Despite the failed Newton experiment, the Patriots are still well suited for a veteran signal-caller to lead the offense. Newton entered this season after multiple injured reserve stints and can no longer shoulder an offense. Ryan has a different game than his former NFC South counterpart, and the 13-year veteran can still sling the football, as he posted the league's fourth-best total of 4,581 passing yards. 

Jarrett Stidham is the only quarterback from the active roster under contract through next season. Everyone can play the "Is he or isn't he ready?" game again next spring, but the majority already know the answer. 

Even so, the problems extend beyond the quarterback in New England. The Patriots own the league's worst wide receiver and tight end rooms. By concentrating on those positions in the draft and then coming back to quarterback in the summer, New England can shape a new offense. 

Belichick has the patience to wait out a possible deal. After all, the Patriots didn't sign Newton until July 8. Waiting until June to acquire Ryan might bother some franchises; New England won't be one of them. The Patriots already have $63.2 million in projected space, so taking on a $23 million cap hit remains feasible.

Compensation: 2022 second- and sixth-round draft picks

         

Indianapolis Colts

General manager Chris Ballard is meticulous in his approach to building the Indianapolis Colts roster. He won't make a move just to make one. 

"If we get to a point, and you can read this as you want to read it, a true difference-maker in the free-agent market, I'm good paying for [one]," Ballard said in a radio interview two years ago (h/t Indianapolis Star's Jim Ayello). "But they have to be a true difference-maker, unquestionably. Not the media saying he's a true difference-maker—the tape saying he's a true difference-maker."

Substitute free agency with any type of non-draft acquisition, and the general manager's philosophy comes across loud and clear. 

The Colts will have options at quarterback. Ballard could re-sign Philip Rivers (if the 39-year-old doesn't retire) or Jacoby Brissett. Rivers could be cheaper and wouldn't cost future assets, but he's also three-and-a-half years older than Ryan, while the latter is a better passer. On the other hand, Brissett, 28, is a developing quarterback who still hasn't shown the capabilities of a full-time starter. 

An upgrade at the game's most important position with the potential to last beyond the 2021 campaign should hold value. 

Money isn't an issue since Ballard has done a wonderful job of maintaining the Colts' salary cap over the years and keeping them among the teams with the most flexibility. Indianapolis ranks in the top four in projected salary-cap space in each of the next two seasons.

Of any organization, the Colts can most easily absorb Ryan's contract even as they extend younger players such as Darius Leonard, Braden Smith, Quenton Nelson, Rock Ya-Sin and Bobby Okereke at some point during the final years of the quarterback's deal.

But don't expect Ballard to overspend, even for a signal-caller. 

Compensation: 2022 fourth- and fifth-round draft picks

              

Washington Football Team

Of the three franchises mentioned, Washington sits in the most precarious position because the team isn't good, per se. Yes, the nameless ones captured an NFC East crown, but it was with a 7-9 record. The team had to rely on Alex Smith's miraculous comeback just to make that happen. 

Smith remains under contract through 2022, which makes Washington the less likely possibility compared to the previous two franchises (plus the fighting Ron Riveras reside in the NFC alongside the Falcons). 

However, Washington can release Smith after this season and save $14.7 million toward the 2021 salary cap. If the team would then entertain a trade for Ryan, his addition would add less than $10 million to the $47.2 million in projected space Washington already owns. 

A move of this type may be more important for Washington than other franchises because the team can't pick higher than 19th overall and will likely miss out on multiple top quarterback prospects. It also needs a veteran to lead an offense that is quite young among its skill positions. 

Rivera prepared for Ryan twice per year for nine seasons. Washington's head coach knows exactly what he would get in the quarterback if the franchise were to swing a deal. 

Meanwhile, the organization could place itself in a position to stay atop the NFC East for multiple seasons instead of potentially fading next year, depending on how its rivals develop after a disastrous campaign for everyone outside the D.C. area. 

Compensation: 2022 second- and fifth-round draft picks

             

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski. Salary-cap info via Over the Cap.

Matt Ryan and Julio Jones might be the two most identifiable members of the Atlanta Falcons, but team owner Arthur Blank acknowledged they may not be in the franchise's future plans.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Blank didn't say the Falcons are openly trying to move Ryan or Jones but acknowledged a separation isn't off the table:

"What I think is important, most important, is that we hire people who are, number one, the very best at their jobs. 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."

Team president Rich McKay told The Athletic's Jeff Schultz and Tori McElhaney in December whomever Atlanta hires as its general manager or head coach may prefer to trade one or both of the stars. In the event that happened, ownership wouldn't stand in the way.

Ryan and Jones are signed through the 2023 season, and they continue to play at a high level.

Ryan threw for 4,581 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2020, while Jones caught 51 passes for 771 yards and three scores. A hamstring problem limited the latter to nine games.

The logic behind keeping them on the roster is largely obvious as they can continue to be the bedrock of the offense.

Executing a rebuild is a little tricker, however, with a starting quarterback and No. 1 receiver who will be 36 and 32, respectively, when the 2021 season kicks off. Their value might also be higher as trade assets since the pair would presumably have plenty of interested suitors across the league.

The Cincinnati Bengals had a similar situation with A.J. Green. Despite a clear lean period coming and Green potentially fetching a nice draft pick, they decided to hold onto him. The net result was four wins and the seven-time Pro Bowler leaving this offseason unless Cincinnati wants to use franchise tag for the second straight season.

Compare that to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who dismantled an elite defense and are now set up nicely moving forward.

Dealing Jones and/or Ryan would mean a short-term hit financially for Atlanta. Here are the salary cap implications for both players, per Spotrac:

          

Julio Jones

Pre-June 1 Trade

• 2021 Dead Cap: $23.3 million
• 2021 Cap Savings: -$200,000

Post-June 1 Trade

• 2021 Dead Cap: $7.8 million
• 2022 Dead Cap: $15.5 million
• 2021 Cap Savings: $15.3 million

            

Matt Ryan

Pre-June 1 Trade

• 2021 Dead Cap: $44.4 million
• 2021 Cap Savings: -$3.5 million

Post-June 1 Trade

• 2021 Dead Cap: $17.9 million
• 2022 Dead Cap: $26.5 million
• 2021 Cap Savings: $23 million

         

While this would be a significant amount of money to eat, it would leave the Falcons' books pretty clean come 2023, when any rebuild would start to bear fruit and the team is closer to playoff contention.

Following their trip to the Super Bowl in 2016, Atlanta has seen steadily diminishing returns. Perhaps swapping out the head coach and general manager will be enough to have the team right back in the postseason hunt.

But nobody should be surprised if a new front office decides to tear things down and start anew.

It may be difficult to envision the current iteration of the Atlanta Falcons without Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, but team president Rich McKay said the next general manager will have the freedom to move on from the pair as long as there is a plan in place.  

"Give us a plan," McKay said when asked what his reaction would be to a general manager candidate expressing a desire to go a different direction, per Jeff Schultz and Tori McElhaney of The Athletic. "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."

McKay made his first public comments to reporters since Atlanta fired general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn in October and made it clear he will not stand in the way of the next hire's job.

"Hey, listen: You're the GM," McKay said. "Whatever [part of the job] you can take, you take. Whatever you can't take, I'll help."

Schultz and McElhaney noted the NFC South team considers 11 or 12 of the "20 to 25" general manager candidates it has vetted as legitimate options as it looks to re-establish itself as a winning franchise following what will be a third straight losing season.

The 2020 campaign has been defined by blown leads down the stretch of games, bringing back painful memories for Falcons fans of the 28-3 advantage it lost in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots that ended the 2016 season.

Ryan has been the franchise quarterback for Atlanta since it selected him with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2008 NFL draft. He has a league MVP and four Pro Bowls on his resume and just passed Fran Tarkenton for 10th on the NFL's all-time touchdown pass list during Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jones has been with the Falcons since they selected him with the No. 6 overall pick of the 2011 NFL draft and is one of the best receivers of his generation as a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection.

Still, Jones turns 32 in February, while Ryan is 35 years old. Moving on from both would also clear up salary-cap space, which would facilitate a rebuild in the coming years for whoever is in charge of football moves.

It would be a drastic change for the franchise, but the next general manager will apparently have the clearance to do so as long as there is a solid line of thinking that goes into such a decision.

Everyone has that special holiday present from their childhood they remember. 

Fittingly, it was a football for Matt Ryan.

"I remember one of my favorite gifts of all-time was a Nike football I got in eighth grade," the Atlanta Falcons quarterback told Bleacher Report. "It was a legitimate college Nike football, for me that was one of the things that I just wouldn't put down."

The rest is history, as Ryan is among the best quarterbacks of his generation with a league MVP and four Pro Bowls on his resume.

It is no wonder, then, that the face of the Falcons wants to set today's children up for success by providing access to sports equipment and gear during the holiday season. Ryan teamed up with Dick's Sporting Goods and the Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation to help give under-resourced communities just that.

"There's just no telling which gift they're giving is going to connect with that kid and springboard them to use it as motivation to move forward in that area," he said. "I believe that sports matter and impact kids in a positive way, and I think that Dick's is doing a great job of promoting that."

Dick's Sporting Goods and the Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation are giving the gift of sport to 10,000 children in New York City, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, New Orleans and Atlanta through the Sports Matter Giving Truck and with the help of athletes such as Ryan, Candace Parker and Blake Griffin.

The truck recently stopped at the houses of young athletes from the Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation and surprised families with equipment and a virtual appearance from Ryan himself.

To stay safe during the pandemic, Ryan—who posted about the experience on his Instagram page—appeared on television screens that were mounted to the truck and was still able to interact with the children and enjoy their reactions to the gifts.

"It was cool to see their faces light up," he said. "You know, 2020 has obviously been a tough year for everybody, so to put a smile on the faces of some kids that can use it was fun to be a part of and a huge credit to what Dick's is doing and their Sporting Goods Foundation is doing across the country. They're to be commended for that."

Focusing on helping children is nothing new for Ryan, who has consistently teamed up with the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for the Matt Ryan Celebrity-Am Classic golf tournament and sought out opportunities to give back to his community.

"It's always been important to my wife (Sarah) and I to help out in our community, specifically in the area," he said. "It's just been a tough year for kids in general. They've had to go through so many changes with different ways to do school and not as many after-school activities and sports. To just play a small part during the holiday season by giving back and putting smiles on kids' faces in a year where they could really use it just seemed like something that, not only myself, but we all should be doing."

While Ryan has continued to give back off the field, it has been a disappointing season on it.

His Falcons fell to 4-10 with Sunday's 31-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which featured yet another blown lead. Atlanta lost its 24-7 advantage in the second half, continuing the theme of an inability to close out games after impressive starts.

It was not all bad, though, as Ryan played well on an individual level and threw for 356 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions even with Julio Jones sidelined. A major reason for his success was the immediate connection he established with Calvin Ridley, who finished with 10 catches for 163 yards and a score.

Ryan had nothing but positive things to say about the third-year receiver who already has career highs with 77 catches and 1,192 receiving yards this season:

"He's only going to continue to get better. Year 3 is typically a year where guys start to take off, and I think Calvin has done that. He had a great rookie year, really good second year, but I think he's played at another level. He's just so comfortable in his routine of getting ready week-to-week. Knows how to get himself from a physical standpoint and also mental standpoint just dialed in week-in and week-out. I think his confidence is continuing to grow. His skill set is awesome, and now that his confidence is getting greater and greater, I think that the sky's the limit for him. He's going to be one of the better receivers in our league for a long time."

With Ridley helping spearhead a strong aerial attack, Ryan also passed Fran Tarkenton for 10th on the all-time touchdown pass list with his 343rd. He is now behind only Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning in the category.

"He's one of the greats of all-time," he said when talking about Tarkenton. "To be on that list and in that same category is special, I'm proud of that for sure. Hopefully there's still a lot of good football in front of me and many more years to go, but I'm certainly proud of where I'm at."

There isn't much football in front of the Falcons for the rest of the 2020 campaign with no chance at the playoffs, but they can still play spoiler in the race for seeding for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buccaneers.

Ryan believes such a challenging two-game road trip to end the season presents an opportunity for the struggling team.

"We're playing two really good football teams to finish," he said. "It's a good measuring stick for us and hopefully a momentum-builder as we head into 2021. There's gonna be a lot of changes, there's no doubt about that for us in our organization. But for the guys that remain, this can be one of those things, particularly for young guys, to learn how to go on the road and how to beat a good football team. This can be a building block for us as we move forward."

Just like the gear he and Dick's Sporting Goods provided can be a building block for kids to develop their skills and pursue their athletic careers.

Last offseason, one NFL general manager was hired. This offseason, it will be at least four, replacing those who have been fired since the 2020 season began: Houston's Bill O'Brien, Atlanta's Thomas Dimitroff, Jacksonville's Dave Caldwell and Detroit's Bob Quinn.

"It's a pattern now," says one scouting director. "This is unheard of, the way they have done it so far this year even with the pandemic. People weren't expecting that because of the changes people had to adapt to. But it happened to four teams, and there are still teams [to go]." 

And there was already one preexisting opening: Washington, which does not have a general manager in title.

As for any firings to come, all the sources interviewed for this story agreed that Chicago's general manager job is likely to become available. "The Bears could come open," says one NFC personnel executive. "Which they should, because anyone who picked Mitch Trubisky over [Deshaun] Watson and [Patrick] Mahomes ... I still can't believe that." 

Sources also agreed Giants general manager Dave Gettleman's job looks safe this year. The Eagles came up as another spot as they speculated either general manager Howie Roseman or head coach Doug Pederson might be fired after the season. 

The current general manager openings feature a range of pros and cons. There are expensive veteran quarterbacks, a young franchise quarterback and no quarterbacks of note at all. There's great cap space and great cap debt—particularly notable this time around with the salary cap expected to decrease by 11.2 percent, according to Over the Cap's estimate.  

Of the four new openings, three also feature the ability to have a say in the hiring of the head coach.

Bleacher Report asked around the league to find out what those on the difficult path to a coveted general manager position might think about each of the openings. Which job is the most attractive? Five sources opted to rank them, while others chose to simply list pros and cons.

The following is a compilation of those sources' rankings and commentary for the Falcons, Jaguars, Lions and Texans. 

We're sticking with the new openings and leaving out Washington, where several sources expect vice president of player personnel Kyle Smith to be promoted to general manager. (But if that doesn't happen? Then most of the sources would put the Football Team at the bottom of the list.)

   

1. HOUSTON TEXANS

Owner: Cal McNair

Head coach: TBD; Romeo Crennel is interim

QB: Deshaun Watson

2020 W-L: 4-8

Projected 2021 cap space, per Over the Cap: $11,050,834 over the cap

2021 draft note: No first- or second-round picks but seven picks in Rounds 3-7. 

Houston received three first-place votes, so the Texans claim the top spot.

Franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson, age 25, is the reason voters picked Houston as the most inviting opportunity. With a proven young quarterback in place, the job is a lot easier. 

"To have a guy in place, that means you are just adding pieces around him," says the NFC personnel executive. "That alleviates a lot of headaches; you are ready to win right now with a QB."

The downsides in Houston include a glaring lack of high draft capital in 2021 and a small, five-member 2020 rookie class that hasn't had much impact on the field this season. Former head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien hamstrung his successor by trading away top 2021 picks and assembling the league's most expensive 2020 roster. 

"You literally have nothing, and you have just chaos, it seems like," says one executive who ranked Houston third behind Jacksonville and Atlanta. "Not saying that is a bad job, but you really don't have much."

The chaos this executive references is the recent turnover in the personnel department and confusion as to the role of Jack Easterby, Houston's executive vice president of football operations.

Easterby's rise to that role is a mysterious one. He doesn't have a background in personnel and began his NFL career in a chaplain role for the Chiefs. He then spent six seasons as New England's character coach before joining Houston in 2019 as the team's executive vice president of team development. He was promoted to executive vice president of football operations in January and continues to gain power.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reported in October that Easterby is Houston's interim general manager until a new one is hired. McNair has since reiterated that he'll make the final decision on the next general manager, that it won't be Easterby and that the general manager will be involved in hiring the head coach. 

"The biggest question mark in Houston is the Easterby factor," says another NFC executive. "My experience with these team chaplains: Almost every one I have met is shady and has other aspirations, and his has just become public." 

Sources agreed that Houston has the most confusing power structure of the current openings and any candidate interviewing there will need to ask a lot of questions to determine Easterby's main role and what that working relationship will look like. 

Sources also pointed out that in regard to the financial finagling that will need to be done, some tough decisions need to be made with big veteran contracts. Watson's $160 million extension goes into effect after the 2021 season, and that's a huge future cap hit to plan around.  

But whatever the price, you've got a quarterback.

"He's really, really good, and he's gotten better," says the personnel executive. "So that's the biggest selling point." 

   

2. JACKSONVILLE

Owner: Shahid Khan

Head coach: Doug Marrone, for now

QB: TBD

2020 W-L: 1-11

Cap space: $79,676,992, the most in the league

2021 draft notes: Likely top-three pick in the first round (second overall if the season ended today) and another first-round pick from a trade with the Rams (currently 26th)

The Jaguars received one first-place vote and four second-place votes.

"As crazy as it sounds, it might be Jacksonville [as the best opportunity]," says the executive who ranked Houston third. "They have an owner who actually wants to win, no state income tax. You have a bunch of cap space, and you have a lot of picks." 

The most enticing positive is the possibility of drafting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence at No. 1. If the Jets keep hold of that first overall pick, Jacksonville will still have a high enough pick to land the next-best rookie quarterback. 

"It has the best blank slate," says one personnel executive. "You have a lot of money, draft capital and some good young players, so from that perspective, you have the chance to make it your own. From a purely scouting standpoint, it's great." 

That executive also says the Jaguars have the least talented roster of the bunch, so the ample cap space will be put to use. And during a year in which cap space will likely be reduced, scouts agreed that's a huge draw for Jacksonville.

"Three years ago, they had a lot of big names, particularly on defense, and those guys are no longer there," the scouting director says. "The previous regime tried to rebuild young, which allowed them to have a little bit more money in their cap." 

"The coach has to go, and offensive talent is sparse," says a veteran scout. 

A draw for Jacksonville is owner Shahid Khan, who sources say is hands-off and willing to go all-in to win.

"You can't be Jerry Jones. You can't be Dan Snyder early in his career. You got to let people do their jobs," says the NFC personnel executive. "That's what is interesting about Jax." 

Khan has a reputation for giving general managers time to build. All sources for this story say he is patient, which is a huge key to success. Fired general manager Dave Caldwell had seven-plus seasons in the role. 

One question is Khan's son, Tony Khan, senior vice president of football administration and technology, as well as a part-owner. Last offseason, he got into a public Twitter feud with then-Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue over a trade demand, and some sources wondered what his involvement would be going forward. He also has roles with Fulham FC and All Elite Wrestling.

    

3. DETROIT 

Owner: Sheila Ford Hamp

Head coach: TBD; interim is Darrell Bevell

QB: Matthew Stafford

2020 W-L: 5-7

Cap room: $14,611,410

2021 draft note: 12th pick right now

The lone first-place vote for Detroit came from a veteran evaluator who likes Matthew Stafford. He ranked the Lions above the Jaguars because of Detroit's longer franchise history and above Houston because of the draft capital and the Houston "wild card" of Easterby. 

"The foundational organizations give some psychological benefit, so I think [the most attractive] is Detroit," he said. "From a pure 'analytical' standpoint, yes, Jacksonville is quite attractive." 

Similar to Jacksonville ownership, Detroit's Ford family has a hands-off reputation. Controlling owner Sheila Ford Hamp took the reins from her mother, Martha Firestone Ford, in June, and she's already established a reputation as level-headed. 

Detroit's biggest draw and question is Stafford. There were mixed reviews on the question of keeping the quarterback or trading him. All sources agreed the 32-year-old is talented and would generate a ton of trade interest and possible compensation. 

The veteran scout said the Lions should start over and trade Stafford, an expensive veteran, because there are too many needs on the rest of the roster.

"I think the majority of people would want to keep him," says the personnel executive. "It just depends on what the options are in the draft. If you didn't like him, it's a very tradable contract, and I think you would have a lot of takers." 

The NFC personnel executive cautions against the trade option: "You need to put good pieces around him, so Matt Stafford can say this isn't the same old Detroit. Where are you going to go at quarterback? Where do you go? If you get rid of him, what do you do?" 

The job may be best suited for an experienced candidate since the pressure will be high to turn around a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since 1991 and is coming off a Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia regime that was roundly criticized by former players.

Patricia and Quinn, both former Patriots employees, tried and failed to install the Patriot Way in Detroit. Patricia butted heads with many talented veterans who didn't respond to his harsh coaching style and long list of rules. 

"It's tough to walk in where there has been public issues and discord," says the veteran scout. "That means s--t is even worse once you get there."

"They have had no excitement in that city. They need somebody to come in with some pizazz. They need somebody the community looks at and says, 'This is our guy,'" says the NFC personnel executive. "There are a whole bunch of things you have to be in Detroit in order to succeed there, and it's going to take somebody with a big personality, willing to roll up his sleeves, get out into the community and bring the whole city of Detroit back to football." 

   

4. ATLANTA 

Owner: Arthur Blank

Head coach: TBD; interim is Raheem Morris

QB: Matt Ryan

2020 W-L: 4-8

Cap room: $25,254,296 over the cap, third-worst in the league

2021 draft note: Eighth pick if the season ended today

The Falcons didn't receive any first-place votes, and they got just one second place and a mix of third and fourth places.

"It's almost the opposite [of Jacksonville] in that you're kind of in a salary-cap hell," says the personnel executive.

A big part of the job will be cutting, trading and moving on from big contracts. Receiver Julio Jones and quarterback Matt Ryan are the two biggest cap hits this season and next season, when Ryan is due to carry a $40.9 million hit and Jones a $23.1 million hit. 

"You have some great players; you just can't move on from those great players if you wanted to, which I don't think you'd want to anyways," the personnel executive says. "There are some moves you have to make to get down to the cap, and neither of those moves is Matt Ryan or Julio Jones. ... Their contracts, you can't get out of them." 

The veteran scout ranked Atlanta over Detroit because of the previous regimes. "It's a similar situation with older and expensive QBs," he says. "But Atlanta is the more attractive situation because you would be actually following up good guys instead of a culture vulture like in Detroit." 

Several sources view Atlanta as a win-now option. That's partly because of Ryan, but Atlanta is also a spot where the next general manager needs to think about drafting a quarterback soon.

"You have a veteran QB [Ryan is 35] who is still a proven winner in this league," the scouting director says. "Maybe you can bring in a young quarterback through the draft and train them, similar to what Green Bay normally does." 

    

Kalyn Kahler covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow her on Twitter for NFL musings and thoughts: @KalynKahler.