Matt Ryan was just traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Indianapolis Colts. Who are some free agents to help him out in his new home?
On Monday, the Atlanta Falcons shipped off their franchise quarterback Matt Ryan to Indianapolis for a 2022 third-round pick.
The Colts have another short-term solution at quarterback and are poised to continue to try to compete for a playoff spot and perhaps more.
The Falcons should now enter a full rebuild mode with new head coach Arthur Smith and new general manager Terry Fontenot, who both took over before the 2021 season.
Now that Ryan is in Indy, the Colts can hit the ground running in the last waves of free agency to try and surround him with as much talent as possible. While he is still an effective signal-caller, he’s also very limited and does need a stronger roster to win.
Fortunately, the Colts do have a stronger roster, but they have a couple of holes that may impact Ryan being able to reach his full potential in Indy. He has shown a few seasons of being an elite passer, winning the MVP award in 2016.
So, who are some targets to help out Matt Ryan for 2022 and beyond?
Three targets to help Matt Ryan in 2022
1. Julio Jones, WR
This makes the most sense. Julio Jones and Matt Ryan spent 10 years in Atlanta together. They remained one of the best QB-WR duos in the NFL during this time period, and the Colts have a need at wide receiver.
Longtime Colts great T.Y. Hilton is a free agent, Jack Doyle retired, and Michael Pittman can’t do it all himself.
Julio Jones to Indy is a natural fit for both sides; Ryan gets someone he is clearly very comfortable with, and Indy gets another threat at wide receiver.
Jones has played in just 19 games the past two seasons, to injuries are starting to catch up to him. He’s entering his age-33 season and is one of the best to ever do it.
Jones won’t have to have a featured role in the offense, but getting him on the roster makes too much sense for the Colts to pass up.
Three targets to help Matt Ryan in 2022
2. Terron Armstead, LT
Another natural fit, Terron Armstead could help keep Matt Ryan upright.
Armstead, the longtime Saint is a free agent who is being pursued by the Dolphins.
I think the Colts make a ton of sense for him. They trotted out Eric Fisher in 2021, but he was not nearly as effective as he was during his time as a Chief. He was recovering from a torn Achilles, so that figured to factor into his poorer play.
Armstead is a premier left tackle who also does have his own injury concerns, but he’s a tier or 2 above Eric Fisher and would give Ryan a very good blindside protector.
The Colts still have just about $17 million in cap space, so they’ll have plenty to sign Armstead to a lower cap hit for 2022.
One of the strengths of the Colts is their offensive line, but they lose Mark Glowinski to the Giants and have a gaping hole at left tackle.
Signing Armstead, who has played in a dome his entire career with the Saints, will get to continue playing in a dome in Indy and also get to protect a future Hall of Fame quarterback while anchoring one of the league’s best offensive lines that would feature himself, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, and Braden Smith.
Three targets to help Matt Ryan in 2022
3. Jarvis Landry, WR
How about another wide receiver and a replacement for T.Y. Hilton? Jarvis Landry is an NFL ironman. He never missed a game during the first six seasons of his career and has only missed six games in his eight-year career.
Landry is as reliable as they come. He has three 1,000 yard receiving seasons and has averaged 6 catches and 62 receiving yards per game for his career.
The five-time Pro Bowler turns 30 in late November, so he isn’t old. He’d also give Ryan a very reliable target for short and intermediate throws, something he needs to rely on more at his advanced age.
Being that the team already has Michael Pittman and should sign Julio Jones, signing Jarvis Landry allows the Colts to boast a nice trio of weapons.
The Colts have plenty of cap space to sign Landry who won’t be expensive, and Landry could stay in the AFC, where he’s played his entire career.
Cleveland is also a rather short distance from Indianapolis, so Landry would not have to move far, either.