A lot of talk about quarterbacks and contracts this offseason has mostly been focused around impending free agent Kirk Cousins. But, a quarterback who might become the league’s next highest-paid player is Atlanta Falcons signal caller Matt Ryan.
🏈💰 #Atlanta Falcons near mega-deal for QB Matt Ryan … and it could be the #NFL's first-ever $30M per year contract | READ MORE – https://t.co/SgNxXHKShR pic.twitter.com/WKgBsI78Kv
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) March 1, 2018
Contract negotiations have started between the Falcons and Ryan’s agent, Tom Condon. General manager Thomas Dimitroff weighed in on how things are progressing.
“We both know where Matt needs to be (financially), Dimitroff said, per WSB-TV2. He needs to be here and he wants to be here and as I said, I don’t think it’s a complicated situation. It’s a deal that’s significant.”
Ryan is currently signed through the 2018 season and will earn a total cash payout of $19.25 million. He currently accounts for 12.16 percent of the team’s 2018 salary cap.
Per the report, if the Falcons can re-sign Ryan before March 14, the team would have more money to spend under the new league’s $178-$180 million salary cap.
Ryan was the third overall pick of the Falcons back in 2008. He is four-time Pro Bowler, one-time MVP and was the 2016 AP Offensive Player of the Year.
He has maintained a 64.9 pass completion rate and sports a 95-63 record. Ryan also has played in six postseasons including making his first Super Bowl appearance in 2017.
Ryan turns a mere 33-years-old in May.