42-Day NFL Warning: Matt Ryan Becomes the Latest Crazy-Rich Quarterback

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Matt Ryan

What’s that? You were wondering exactly how many days until the start of the NFL season? Well, you’re in luck! We here at the Triangle are set to spend the next month and a half providing a daily reason to get excited about pro football’s return.

In what now seems like a weekly occurrence, another NFL quarterback has been handed an absurd amount and will be inextricably linked with the success of his franchise for the foreseeable future. Matt Ryan agreed to a five-year, $103.75 million (with $59 million guaranteed) contract extension with the Falcons this afternoon, becoming the latest QB to pull in a massive haul this offseason. Just to recap, we’ve also had:

  • Tony Romo: six years, $108 million, $55 million guaranteed
  • Matthew Stafford: three years, $53 million, $41.5 million guaranteed
  • Joe Flacco: six years, $120 million, $52 million guaranteed
  • Aaron Rodgers: five years, $110 million, $62.5 million guaranteed

As with all NFL deals, the most important number here is the last one. The massive nine-figure totals are fun for headlines, but the telling investment is the one teams can’t get out of. With that number in mind, Ryan’s deal falls right where it should among the ones already handed out — below Rodgers, but ahead of the rest. It’s a deal that clearly suggests Atlanta believes that last year’s Ryan — the upper-echelon production combined with a bit of playoff success — is the one they expect going forward. With the money that’s getting thrown around right now, that version of Matt Ryan is among the more favorable options.

Filed Under: Aaron Rodgers, Atlanta Falcons, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, NFL, Robert Mays, Tony Romo

Robert Mays is a staff writer at Grantland.

Archive @ robertmays

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