Matt Ryan is patiently awaiting his new contract with the Atlanta Falcons. With NFL draft over and free agency moves wrapping up, negotiations for the quarterback's contract extension are ramping up. With training camp as the deadline for a new deal, the Falcons are in a hurry to get this done. Ryan is expected to be the next quarterback to receiver a pay day this offseason, but do not expect the Falcons to look towards other deals as a starting point for Ryan.
A Falcons' team official told the National Football Post that Matthew Stafford's recent deal with the Detroit Lions will not "seriously affect" the ongoing negotiations with Ryan. They simply said his deal is "another piece of the puzzle, more information, but we kind of all have a feel for where we have to be."
Stafford recently signed a five-year, $76.5 million deal that will star after his current contract ends. Ryan is entering into the final year of his rookie contract signed after the team drafted him in 2008. Stafford's deal is comparable to that of Tony Romo's contract signed this summer, but most expect Ryan's deal to be higher and more like Joe Flacco's contract.
Market value will play very little into the negotiations with Ryan. The Falcons have no plans on letting the quarterback go, so they are not considering what other teams might offer him if the Ryan were to hit the free agent market. General manager Thomas Dimitroff is confident a deal will get done prior to the season beginning, but if for some reason things stall out, Ryan will have the leverage in negotiations.
If Ryan can fulfill the Falcons expectations of another Super Bowl run, he will be in the driver's seat for a long-term deal. Ryan's resume speaks for a blockbuster deal. Playoff wins can certainly be debated, but a long string off success makes Ryan poised to land somewhere in the five-year, $50 million in guarantees range.
Ryan is not concerned with the contract negotiations. The quarterback is confident that he will be in Atlanta for many years to come and the business side will work itself out. According to Ryan's agent, Tom Condon, there are no indications that a deal will not be completed.
