Cleveland Browns: Is Matt Ryan a trade deadline option?

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Oct 18, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; The slogan “IT TAKES ALL OF US” is displayed on the back of the helmet of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) as he warms up before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports /

Ryan may not be elite, but he’s good enough to win with

Ryan was the third overall pick in 2008, and has been by far the best QB in Falcons history. He’s gone 110-85 as a starter, throwing for over 53,000 yards, 332 touchdowns, and 150 interceptions. He has led Atlanta to six playoff appearances, including a berth in Super Bowl 51, the infamous game that spawned a meme that will not be referenced here.

The Falcons won seven games in each of the past two seasons, but Ryan was not to blame for that. He is still a top-15 QB, and is arguably top-10 as well. He’s not a top-tier passer, but he’s more than good enough to lead a good roster deep into the playoffs. His best season came in 2016 with Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator. Shanahan’s offensive system is extremely similar to what Kevin Stefanski runs with the Browns, as both have been heavily influenced by Gary Kubiak.

Ryan would of course not be a long-term solution, but he could easily play for four or five years at the very least. That’s plenty of time for the Browns to find a young rookie to develop behind a proven veteran.

If Cleveland were to replace Mayfield with Ryan, they’d become immediate Super Bowl contenders. Ryan would have an excellent stable of targets to throw to, the best backfield in the league, and an elite offensive line. The Browns have a good amount of cap space with which to fill holes on defense in the event that they decide to go all-in, which would almost be a necessity with Ryan.

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