3 QBs the Falcons Draft to Replace Matt Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons obviously have some issues. The team has finished under .500 in three consecutive years now, bottoming out in 2020 with a 4-12 record. But unlike some other veteran QBs, Matt Ryan is not the problem. In fact, he's received a top-12 grade from ProFootballFocus in two of those three years, including a top-10 finish this year.

But as good as Ryan has been, his production just hasn't translated into wins recently. And it may be time for Atlanta to face the music. Armed with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Falcons will have to strongly consider spending that pick on their quarterback of the future.

But that doesn't mean the team will be parting ways with Ryan this offseason. Carrying a dead cap hit of $49 million, the Boston College product is all but guaranteed to be on the team next season. With that in mind, here are three QBs the Falcons should draft in 2021 to sit behind Matty Ice for a year.

3. Mac Jones, Alabama

Mac Jones could really benefit from watching Ryan for a year. The two are very similar players. Both make their bones as accurate pocket passers who make smart, quick decisions. Even their flaws are pretty similar, as neither player has truly top-end arm talent, and neither does much with their legs. Plus, the Falcons have real holes to fill on this roster. Jones is not projected to be a top-five pick, so Atlanta could trade down, pick up some assets, and land Jones somewhere around pick No. 10 or No. 12. It'd be a win-win for all parties involved. Atlanta gets its QB of the future, Ryan keeps his job for a year, and Jones gets to learn from one of the best mentors possible.

2. Justin Fields, Ohio State

Justin Fields is widely considered to be the second-best QB in this class, but his grasp on that title is not as firm as you might think. If he does slip, don't expect him to make it past the Falcons at No. 4. Fields looked impossible to defend at times while running RPOs or play action, and that has to be intriguing to new Falcons' head coach Arthur Smith. Smith revitalized Ryan Tannehill's career, turning him into one of the league's deadliest, most efficient passers in an offense that used a lot of those concepts. Given what he did with Tannehill, it'd be hard not to wonder what Smith could do with a blue-chip talent like Fields.

1. Zach Wilson, BYU

Of all the names on this list, Atlanta ending up with Zach Wilson feels like the most likely outcome. At this point, it'd be a surprise to see Wilson fall outside the top five picks, and he makes a lot of sense for Atlanta at No. 4. Wilson wouldn't be a reach there like Jones would, and he's a lot more likely to be on the board at No. 4 than Fields. He's not the athlete that Fields is, but he'd be similarly deadly running the RPOs and play actions that Smith used so well with Tannehill. Sending Wilson to the Falcons just feels like the perfect fit. He'd get to learn from one of the best QBs in the game, play for a coach whose offense is perfectly tailored to his strengths, and throw passes to superstars like Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones. Don't be surprised if Wilson is the team's pick at No. 4.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook today and get your first bet risk free for up to $1,000!

Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.