Atlanta Falcons: Need A Backup for Matt Ryan
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Falcons will need to either sign or draft a backup quarterback to Matt Ryan.
With the Atlanta Falcons letting Matt Schaub go they are without a decent backup quarterback sitting behind the reigning MVP Matt Ryan. While an MVP year may seem an odd one to begin to focus on adding depth having an adequate quarterback behind Ryan will be one of the most important moves of the off-season.
Football is a tough and unpredictable game look at the way the season ended for the Raiders or the Cowboys having a backup plan in place is important. Drafting a quarterback could be an option but with this year’s thin quarterback class the Falcons would have to hope for the best with a rookie learning from Matt Ryan.
This could be the best option considering that Ryan is still years away from retirement a rookie backup that could learn from one of the best in the game and eventually start for the Falcons or elsewhere if everything went according to plan.
The most likely option is signing a legitimate backup to sit behind Ryan this season. With the Free agent market flooded with backup signal callers here are the Falcons best options for the 2017 season.
Mark Sanchez– At this point you may be rolling your eyes and envisioning the butt fumble but stay with me. This is the same quarterback who took an average Jets team to two AFC title games and took down Tom Brady more then once as a starter.
He may have lost some confidence in recent years but if Matt Ryan were to go down the team would be in trouble as is no reason not to go for broke and hope Sanchez finds the form he had just a few seasons ago.
E.J. Manuel– While he is likely to look for a starting gig if he does fall to a backup roll Manuel would be an interesting quarterback to have behind Matt Ryan.
While he doesn’t have Ryan’s arm strength he is a very mobile quarterback and can make better throws then many give him credit for. Have Manuel behind Ryan would be a wise decision for the Falcons.
Other Options: Landry Jones, Josh Johnson, or Matt Cassel
Next: Falcon's Top Five Players
Regardless of whether they opt to sign or draft a backup for Matt Ryan it should be near the top of the list of priorities for the Falcons this off-season.