The Atlanta Falcons are in a strange situation after beginning the season with a brutal 1-5 record. They have fired head coach Dan Quinn, but could trading quarterback Matt Ryan come next? If so, the Dallas Cowboys could be an intriguing team to keep an eye on.
Ryan has a contract that runs through the 2023 season, although there is a potential out for him after the 2021 season. While the Cowboys are hoping to figure out a long-term deal with current franchise quarterback Dak Prescott, there is no guarantee that things will get done.
What makes this move even more attractive for the Cowboys is the fact that Prescott just went down with a gruesome ankle injury and will miss the rest of the season.
Vincent Frank of SportsNaut mentioned the Cowboys as a potential suitor for Ryan, but does the move really make sense? Here is his explanation for why the fit could be a good one for both Dallas and Ryan.
As for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, it’s not a secret that he likes to make those splashy moves. Sending Atlanta a first-round pick and change for Matt Ryan in a trade would qualify as that. It would also fix the Cowboys’ issues under center for the foreseeable future should the Prescott marriage take a dramatic turn following his injury.
Throughout the first six games of the season with the Falcons, Ryan has put up solid numbers. He did struggle mightily in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers. However, he has still completed 65.2 percent of his pass attempts for 1,843 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions this year.
At 35 years old, Ryan has proved that he still has plenty of football left in him. He isn’t an elite superstar anymore, but he is an above average starting quarterback.
Making the trade now for a first-round pick seems steep, but he would have a trio of dynamic wide receivers and would help keep the Cowboys’ hopes alive of competing for a Super Bowl. He could also be the long-term starter if Dallas decides that Prescott’s contract demands are too steep.
While this may seem like an unlikely move, it would certainly be something to keep an eye on. Jones does love making flashy moves and if he thinks Ryan could bring a Super Bowl to Dallas he would not hesitate to pull the trigger.
Expect to hear plenty of rumors surrounding Matt Ryan and the Falcons leading up to the NFL trade deadline. The Cowboys may not end up pursuing him, but it is an intriguing option.
