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Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan playing his final season in Atlanta?

By Sayre Bedinger

Oct 18, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) and wide receiver Julio Jones (11) celebrate a touchdown during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) and wide receiver Julio Jones (11) celebrate a touchdown during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Falcons have traded one of the best players in franchise history, Julio Jones, to the Tennessee Titans. What does the trade of Jones mean for Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan?

For the time being, nothing.

After the 2021 season, however? It could be that the trade of Jones is a clear signal that Matt Ryan will not be with the Falcons much longer than this year.

The Falcons have a new general manager in Terry Fontenot, who is coming over to Atlanta from the New Orleans Saints. Fontenot has obviously had an up-close look at Ryan over the years and since he’s had time to evaluate and shape the roster his way, he hasn’t exactly pushed the team’s chips all-in.

Fontenot decided not to take Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields atop the 2021 NFL Draft, and instead took Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. The selection of Pitts seemed to indicate at least on some level that the Falcons were all-in on the 2021 season, but then the team decided to field trade offers on Julio Jones.

That decision to take offers on Jones seems to be a clear indicator that Ryan could also be gone in the relatively near future as well.

The Falcons undoubtedly saw what the Detroit Lions were able to get for Matthew Stafford this offseason and perhaps feel like they can get something similar for Ryan. Despite being taken in the 2009 NFL Draft — just one year after Ryan was taken by the Falcons — Stafford is three years younger and that would definitely factor into a possible Matt Ryan deal.

Still, if Ryan can play at a reasonably high level in 2021 and the Atlanta Falcons don’t have team success, he should be able to get them back at least a first-round pick in a trade next offseason.

The Atlanta Falcons now have an additional second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft as well as an additional fourth-round pick from the Titans in 2023.

Unless the Falcons take a huge leap forward as a team without Julio Jones in 2021, a change of scenery for Matt Ryan after this year should almost be expected. He showed this past season that he’s still capable of playing at a high level, but when you trade away the guy’s favorite target for the last decade, what message is that sending?

The Falcons’ direction right now seems headed toward a longer-term rebuild, and the 2021 season will dictate whether that includes Matt Ryan.

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