The Atlanta Falcons are struggling with quarterback Matt Ryan’s expensive contract next season. While the playmaker basically enjoys fool’s freedom through his contract, the franchise’s hands are tied financially.

Munich – To understand overpriced contracts in the present, it is often worth taking a look at the past.

More specifically, a look back to 2018: the Falcons’ Super Bowl appearance was two years ago, but Atlanta was still considered a serious playoff contender under then-head coach Dan Quinn. With the then 33-year-old Matt Ryan, the team had one of the most consistent quarterbacks in its ranks, who had to be paid accordingly.

So the Falcons gave the playmaker a five-year contract extension with a guaranteed sum of 100 million US dollars. What seemed like a solid deal at the time now turns out to be one of the worst contracts in the entire league.

Highest cap hit in NFL history

Because of the bonuses already paid and the high guaranteed money, the Falcons will have to put the contract on the books at a high price in the 2022 season. They always pushed this scenario into the next year in previous seasons in order to be able to spend more money in free agency.

However, because Ryan only has two years left on his contract, the Falcons are now facing the bill for the high guaranteed sums to the quarterback. At $48.7 million, the 36-year-old has the highest cap hit in NFL history – so never has a contract been more expensive on a team’s books than Ryan’s on the Falcons’.

With a projected cap space of $208.2 million, the playmaker takes nearly 25 percent of the available salary for the entire team. With him rarely able to replicate the athletic successes of yesteryear, the Falcons are in a real bind.

Falcons QB Matt Ryan is currently scheduled to have a cap hit of $48,662,500 in 2022.

That would be the largest cap hit for any player in NFL history.

– Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 24, 2022

Ryan with job security – Falcons with little room to manoeuvre

By shifting the problem to the final two years of the contract, the Falcons have maneuvered themselves into an impasse. Because even if they were to fire Ryan, they would save just eight million US dollars next season.

Things look only moderately better in 2023, where they would still have to pay just under 20 million in “dead money” at best. So Ryan can at least be sure of his job in the 2022 season – regardless of performance.

With a current cap space of -6.5 million US dollars, the Falcons can only bake small rolls in the upcoming free agency anyway. So while it’s possible that more money will be available through waivers, it appears the Falcons will have to sit out Ryan’s expensive contract before they can attack again.

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes can break record

For now, Ryan doesn’t have to worry about his record for highest cap hit. He would only be overtaken by Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills with a cap hit of 51.3 million US dollars in 2025, provided the Bills do not restructure his contract.

As of now, only the contract of superstar Patrick Mahomes would be even more expensive. If the contract remains unchanged, he would be on the Kansas City Chiefs’ books in 2027 with an incredible 59.9 million US dollars.