According to CBS Sports, as things stand, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will carry the largest cap hit in NFL history during the 2022 season.
The number? How does $48,662,500 sound?
The 36-year-old is entering year four of a five-year, $150 million contract signed in 2018. Ryan is scheduled to make an additional $43,612,500 in 2023.
The 2016 NFL MVP’s play declined in 2021 when he threw for 3968 yards with 20 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Ryan’s 20 touchdowns were the second-fewest of his career, while his 6.8 adjusted yards per attempt was the league’s third-lowest.
Were the organization to deal Ryan before June 1, it would leave them with $40 million in dead money. If a trade were to occur after June 1, that dead-money hit would be spread out over the next two seasons – $24.9 million and $15.6 million, respectively.
A likelier scenario would be Ryan playing out the remainder of his contract, especially given the lack of enticing quarterback prospects in this year’s draft.
The four-time Pro Bowler is currently eighth on the NFL’s all-time passing yards list (59,735) and ninth all-time in passing touchdowns (367).
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Falcons’ odds of winning the NFC South at +490.