Matt Ryan is the new quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. The franchise acquired the 36-year-old in a trade and now hopes that the team can take the next step with Ryan’s experience and consistency. Will they succeed or will “Indy” suffer a fate similar to that of Philip Rivers?

Munich – Once again, a new era is beginning for the Indianapolis Colts. Carson Wentz is gone. Now Matt Ryan is supposed to lead the franchise to success again. But can the now 36-year-old do it or is he quickly turning into a Philip Rivers 2.0? And will the Colts go “all-in” with Ryan?

For the services of Ryan, the Indianapolis Colts have sent a third-round pick in the direction of the Atlanta Falcons. An, at first glance, acceptable price. However, he has delivered nowhere near the performances of his MVP season in recent years and the veteran is not getting any younger.

Nevertheless, with Matt Ryan, the Colts probably have the greatest chance of winning a Super Bowl since Andrew Luck announced the end of his career. Since then, Jacoby Brissett, Brian Hoyer, Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz have started in Indianapolis. With Ryan comes a quarterback to “Indy” who can still throw the ball above average and feed the receivers around Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell. An absolute top receiver would still look good to the Colts.

The next Philip Rivers in Indianapolis?

General Manager Chris Ballard was delighted with the signing of Ryan: “We are thrilled to sign a veteran like Matt who brings a wealth of experience to the team. His leadership and skillset will contribute to our success. “

There is, nevertheless, a danger that Ryan will develop into something of a “Philip Rivers 2.0” next season. What is meant by that? By the start of next season, the MVP of the 2016 season will be 37. And unless your name is Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, at that age you’re more likely to be in the late autumn of your career and already past your zenith.

Let’s get to it. pic.twitter.com/6dv8B3RNpe

– Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 21, 2022

With Rivers, the Colts had to admit pretty quickly two years ago that it takes more than a big name at the quarterback position to make a deep playoff run. Although the team produced an 11-5 season with the longtime Chargers star, they fell short to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round. It was to be the last game of Rivers’ career, and he hung up his helmet the following offseason.

Ryan won’t have much playing time left in the tank, either. Still, the Colts didn’t go “all-in” with the trade and are far from emulating the Los Angeles Rams, who signed three superstars before and during the season last season in Matthew Stafford, Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr.

Of course, this can still happen, but what top star really wants to play with Ryan when there are numerous other and more attractive options in the league, such as the Rams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills? Owner Jim Irsay also denied a win-now mode.

Is Matt Ryan better than Carson Wentz?

All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard was already making a play for Julio Jones, who was at his best under Matt Ryan in Atlanta but disappointed with the Tennessee Titans last season and was eventually released. At 33, he too is probably past his prime and cannot be compared to an “OBJ” who signed in L.A. during last season.

So what’s in Ryan’s favour? He is clearly fitter than Rivers was in his last season, who threw long passes across the field with his arm only extremely inaccurately. Moreover, the former No. 3 pick has MVP experience and has played in recent years on a team whose standards have been falling ever since the historic Super Bowl implosion against the New England Patriots in 2017. Still, he’s one of the most prolific quarterbacks of the last decade to 15 years, with 367 touchdowns thrown.

An upgrade over Wentz should be pretty much assured for Ryan. The 29-year-old showed too little consistency last season and the tablecloth between him and the franchise was torn at the latest after the embarrassing miss of the playoffs. Ryan gives the Colts new hope. It has been a long time since the Colts had a quarterback with MVP experience on the field. More precisely, not since Peyton Manning. In addition, Ryan is a very smart playmaker who makes almost nothing but good decisions. All things that could speak for a successful time in “Indy”.

Of course, no one can say exactly how things will work out in the end. But it may be doubted that the current squad can compete in an AFC with the Chiefs, Bills, Chargers, Benglas and Co. Maybe the Colts will find the next piece of the puzzle in the draft, because Ryan is certainly not the last one. More like the last one to complete the basic framework. And then you have to pick yourself up and finish the rest of the puzzle.