FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.—Matt Ryan was in a reflective mood when speaking to the media on Monday, acknowledging the many people from the last 10 years who helped the Falcons quarterback land the biggest contract extension in NFL history—which includes a record payout of $150 million from the 2019-23 seasons.
Ryan, the first quarterback selected in the 2008 NFL Draft, offered a tiny glimpse of his future mindset, as well, dropping oblique hints of perhaps taking his career path to the 2027 campaign ... when the 2016 MVP would be in his age-42 season.
"For me, I've always thought it was important to put down roots and be with an organization for a long time," said Ryan on Monday, still basking in the glow of his third professional contract with the Falcons. "Kind of be that quarterback that a franchise could lean on for 15 to 20 years ... and that's kind of still where my head is at."
When pressed about possibly playing at age 42, Ryan offered a more diplomatic response.
"I would love to get to that point," said Ryan with glee, while also lamenting how a player's NFL future can never be written in stone. "I think the contract has me (playing) through my 16th year ... and I'm under contract until (year) 16—I know that."
The differences between Ryan's 2013 contract renewal and the 2018-19 extension are significant:
The 2013 pact, which put Ryan in the hallowed $20 Million Club, came together on the eve of that year's training camp.
For this one, however, where Ryan became the first charter member of the $30 Million Club, there will be no summertime drama for the quarterback, the Falcons or Atlanta fans debating any contractual uncertainties on sports radio.
Despite the complexities of negotiating a $100 million guaranteed payout (also an NFL record) and $150 million in potential new money, this contract got the necessary signatures long before Memorial Day Weekend.
"For both sides, it was about wanting to get it done and focus on football for training camp," said Ryan, who has eclipsed the 4,000-yard passing mark for seven consecutive seasons (2011-17). "I'm happy with the timing of it. Certainly, when we get to (training) camp, it's 100 percent about football. ... I was confident it would get done" in a timely manner.
In 2015, Ryan's salary range of $20 million consumed approximately 14 percent of the Falcons' cap.
And for the 2019 campaign, Ryan's new $30 million figure will generally represent 17 percent of the salary cap.
"The (NFL salary) cap is growing. From a players' perspective, I think that's a really good thing," said Ryan, who has posted one of the league's highest completion percentages since 2012 (67.2). He then acknowledged how the most recent contract extension brings another level of motivation: "It's about earning every dollar; it's about having incentive to play my best football, moving forward."
The Atlanta front office deserves kudos for syncing up Ryan's big contract with a defense full of young, fast and physical defenders. With Vic Beasley, Deion Jones, Keanu Neal, De'Vondre Campbell, Duke Riley, Takk McKinley and Grady Jarrett all on their respective entry-level contracts, the Falcons have the requisite flexibility to absorb a Ryan extension, big contracts for veterans Julio Jones and Desmond Trufant and still seek out an additional piece or two—in pursuit of the club's first-ever championship.
And that's certainly a good trump card to have over the next few months. Many NFL pundits could easily make cases for the Eagles, Rams, Vikings, Panthers, Saints, Falcons, Lions, Packers, Cowboys and 49ers all having legitimate shots at a Super Bowl run this fall; and yet, only six clubs qualify for the NFC playoffs. This considerably cuts down the margin of error from week to week.
As for playing the world champion Eagles in Week 1, Ryan says, "It'll be a fun experience and a difficult place to play, we know that. As for having five of our first seven games at home, every year is different, every year presents its own challenges."
