After Kirk Cousins signed with the Minnesota Vikings for $84 million guaranteed, everyone knew Matt Ryan was next. Many expected his new deal would be higher than Cousins and it was. Matt Ryan signed another 5-year extension, but this time it’s for $150 million with a whopping $100 million guaranteed. In the process, Matt Ryan have become the first player in the NFL to average a $30 million dollar a year average. Ryan, who will turn 33 on May 17, was entering the final year of a five-year, $103.75 million extension he signed in July 2013. The contracts of Ryan and Cousins are followed by San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo ($27.5 million) and Detroit’s Matthew Stafford ($27 million).
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said signing Ryan to an extension was the team’s top offseason priority. Owner Arthur Blank told ESPN that Ryan would be “compensated well” after being named NFL MVP and helping the Falcons to the Super Bowl during the 2016 season. “Matt is getting what he has earned, and we all know the marketplace for a great quarterback,” Blank said Thursday. “League revenues are up, club revenues, new stadiums and the players are the heart of the game. They’re the ones on the field, and they certainly deserve their fair share.” Ryan, the No. 3 pick in the 2008 draft out of Boston College, hasn’t missed a start since December 2009.
He owns 20 franchise records and has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in each of the past seven seasons. He reached 40,000 career passing yards in an NFL-record 151 games and holds the league mark with a 64-game streak of 200-plus passing yards. Ryan has completed 3,630 of 5,593 passes (64.9 percent) for 41,796 yards with 260 touchdowns, 126 interceptions and a passer rating of 93.4 through 158 career games in 10 seasons. His regular-season record is 95-63. Ryan is 4-6 in the playoffs, with two NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl appearance. While the offense should continue their dominance in 2018 with the addition of Calvin Ridley, can they make another Super Bowl run? The NFC have a plethora of great teams like the defending champion Eagles, Rams, 49ers, Vikings and Packers. The NFC East will be the toughest division as the Saints, Panthers and Bucs improving.
I’ve said many times since Ryan was drafted, he reminded me of Peyton Manning on how he approached the game. He’s one of the more competitive and smart guys in the league, plus he’s class-act. Anytime you have a healthy Julio Jones on the roster, you have a chance. If the defense continues to make strides, they could make another run. Now that Matt Ryan has got paid, how much Aaron Rodgers will receive, and will it trump Matt Ryan’s?
How do you feel about the contract extension for Matt Ryan? Do you think he’s worth it? Is he one of the elite QBs in the league? Can he lead the Falcons back to the Super Bowl? Leave a comment below.
