2021 NFL Quarterback Power Rankings: How far ahead is Patrick Mahomes?

By Randy Gurzi | Jun 7, 2021

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 17: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks for an open receiver in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Divisional Playoff at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

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May 25, 2021; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) passes the ball during Falcons OTA at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

This offseason, there were a lot of questions about whether or not the Atlanta Falcons were going to turn the page under center. Since 2008, Matt Ryan has been the starter for them and he has had a ton of success. He’s won 113 games for them, thrown for 55,767 yards and 347 touchdowns.

All of those numbers are franchise records and they’re not even close. There’s no way to even argue that any signal-caller has been as good for the Dirty Birds as he has — and had he and the Falcons been able to close the deal against New England in the Super Bowl, he would even be able to flash the only Super Bowl ring in team history.

As great as all that has been, Atlanta was drafting fourth overall and Ryan is now 36-years of age so they had to consider moving on — especially with a new head coach in Arthur Smith. But when faced with the decision, the Falcons elected to go with tight end Kyle Pitts, meaning Ryan will have more time to try and get back to the big game and he’s still putting up huge numbers.

In 2020, he had 4,581 yards and 26 touchdowns but he won’t have Julio Jones this year as the star wideout is heading to Tennessee. Pitts joining the team should help ease that loss but the Falcons haven’t had a winning season since 2017 and it’s not as if Ryan is getting younger. He’s still one of the top quarterbacks but he just misses the top-10 heading into this season.

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