Could Falcons Trade Matt Ryan to Seahawks?

The Seahawks are in need of a QB, while the Falcons might be willing to move off of Matt Ryan.

Jeremy Brener | Mar 18, 2022

The Atlanta Falcons could possibly take the biggest detour in franchise history in the coming days, trading 14-year veteran quarterback Matt Ryan for Deshaun Watson.

Matt Ryan

Deshaun Watson

The Falcons have been linked to Watson in the coming days and are reportedly one of two finalists for the quarterback's services, along with the New Orleans Saints.

In preparation for a potential deal, the Falcons pushed back Ryan's $7.5 million guarantee date from Friday to the following Tuesday in order for Ryan to "vet his trade options," according to ESPN.

One of those trade options is the Seattle Seahawks, who have already inquired about trading for him.

I'm told the #Seahawks would 'prefer to add an experienced veteran starting quarterback.'
Inquiry* calls have gone out to the #Falcons about Matt Ryan, Cleveland on Baker Mayfield and others, per league source.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 18, 2022

The Seahawks dealt franchise quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos for a massive package earlier this month and are looking for a "veteran QB" to replace him. There isn't a quarterback on the market with more experience than Ryan.

Other than the 44-year-old Tom Brady, Ryan, who turns 37 in May, is the oldest starting quarterback in the NFL.

Ryan has two years left on his contract worth $51 million, so whichever team takes him will have to pay up. He also has a no-trade clause, meaning he has the opportunity to choose his next destination should he want to leave Atlanta.

The ball will soon be in Ryan's court.

Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson, Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan

Seattle would likely welcome him with open arms, but will Ryan want to go to another team to not compete for a championship?

If Ryan prioritizes contending for a Super Bowl, Seattle likely falls below Cleveland and Indianapolis as potential spots. But if he's looking for a place that has publicly expressed interest in him, Ryan may soon be a Seattle Seahawk.

Published Mar 18, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.