San Francisco 49ers should take a chance on Matt Ryan
Will quarterback Matt Ryan sign with the San Francisco 49ers? The four-time Pro Bowler is still under contract with the Indianapolis Colts, but he's expected to part ways with the team soon. The Colts can save roughly $17 million if he is released or traded before March 17.
The 49ers need a veteran quarterback. Trey Lance is the starter, but backup Brock Purdy—who helped the team reach the NFC Championship Game last season as Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo were both out with injuries— is recovering from offseason elbow surgery. Plus, Garoppolo is a free agent and will likely head to another team like the Las Vegas Raiders or Houston Texans.
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In the past offseason, Ryan was moved from the Atlanta Falcons to the Colts. He was tasked with leading Indianapolis into the playoffs alongside star running back Jonathan Taylor and other key players.
However, things didn't work out. Ryan was benched twice and the Colts finished the 2022 season with a 4-12-1 record. In 12 games, Ryan threw for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as the Colts went 4-7-1 with him as the starter. He also posted a 43.1 quarterback rating, the worst of his 15-year career.
Matt Ryan could resurrect his career with the San Francisco 49ers
Knowing that the Matt Ryan experiment failed miserably in Indianapolis, why would San Francisco even consider giving him a chance?
Ryan might be able to revive his career with the 49ers, who have one of the league's top offensive lines. Due to the Colts having arguably the worst offensive line in the league, he was sacked 38 times last season. Of course, protected quarterbacks perform better, especially a stationary quarterback like Ryan.
Ryan would undoubtedly feel at ease if Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the 49ers, were to coach him again. Ryan won the 2016 NFL MVP award and helped Atlanta reach the Super Bowl under the direction of Shanahan, who served as the Falcons' offensive coordinator for two seasons. Having said that, Shanahan unquestionably understands how to bring out the best in his players.
MVP!
Matt Ryan has been named the NFL's 2016 Most Valuable Player. https://t.co/RJ3hzxExoA
In San Francisco, Ryan would be surrounded by a plethora of offensive weapons like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. Plus, the Niners' dominating defense is led by 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa.
Ryan wouldn't have to do a lot, playing for an elite team like the 49ers. And if he ended up starting in place of an injured Trey Lance, he would have a solid chance of succeeding.