The Colts signed their new franchise quarterback, Matt Ryan. He was an MVP candidate the last few years before losing his starting gig for a rookie in 2018. With that being said, it’s safe to say Ryan has more than enough experience to help lead this young team back on top of the NFL.
The “Andrew Luck age” is the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. He joined the team in 2012 and has been with them ever since. After being drafted by the Falcons, Matt Ryan has become a fan favorite in Atlanta. Now that he has signed on to play for his hometown team, it seems like he will follow in Andrew Luck’s footsteps as well. Read more in detail here: andrew luck age.
The Indianapolis Colts, above all else, need veteran quarterback Matt Ryan to accomplish one thing next season: win. The two-time Super Bowl winners would want to win enough games to win the AFC South for the first time since 2014.
Then what? The Colts, on the other hand, are hoping Ryan, who will be 37 in May, will be more than a one-year rental. For his part, the 2016 NFL MVP isn’t averse to deferring retirement and putting up his cleats for a little longer.
Matt Ryan, the new quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, seems to be dedicated to playing beyond the 2022 season.
Matt Ryan is optimistic about his future with the Indianapolis Colts | Getty Images/Michael Reaves
Despite the fact that Tom Brady skews the figures, 37 is the new 32 for contemporary quarterbacks. Ryan, 36, completed 67 percent of his throws for 3,968 yards and led four game-winning drives in his last season with the Atlanta Falcons, despite his 20 touchdown passes being his lowest since his rookie year.
Those who assume Ryan will win the NFL MVP Award in 2022 should reconsider their plan, particularly given the current crop of young quarterbacks. However, when the Colts begin to consider who will be their next long-term quarterback, he should be a solid temporary option.
Could Ryan be the solution? In a recent interview with NBC Sports’ Peter King, the Boston College product at least said on the record that he has no plans to retire after the 2022 season.
“What matters most is enthusiasm, drive, and a will to succeed.” I still have everything. I’m not sure whether I’ll keep it for four, five, or six years. You know what I mean? No, it doesn’t feel like a year has passed. “Without a doubt.”
Matt Ryan
Ryan’s contract, which he signed as the third overall selection in 2008, has two years left on it. He could theoretically play out those two seasons before deciding on his future following the 2023 season.
Ryan would join Andrew Luck in the Colts’ illustrious brotherhood.
Next season, the Colts will have their 7th different Week 1 starting quarterback (the longest current run in the NFL):
2016 – Andrew Luck 2017 – Scott Tolzien 2018 – Andrew Luck 2019 – Jacoby Brissett 2020 – Philip Rivers 2021 – Carson Wentz 2022 – Matt Ryan (projected starter) pic.twitter.com/H8ti8yXscx
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) March 21, 2022
Once upon a time, the Colts’ quarterback situation was rather stable. From 1998 through 2010, Peyton Manning never missed a start, and his replacement, Andrew Luck, started every game from 2012 to 2014. In that period, the Colts only missed the playoffs twice and won Super Bowl 41, so it’s fair to say things were good in Indianapolis.
After that, Luck’s injury troubles restricted him to only seven games in 2015. The carousel started spinning after that.
Luck started 15 games in 2016, but he missed the whole 2017 season due to shoulder surgery. Scott Tolzien began the 2017 season opener before handing the ball over to Jacoby Brissett, a recent trade acquisition who swiftly took over as Luck’s successor.
Luck returned in 2018, retired the following summer, and Brissett took over as the starter for the 2019 season. Then followed Philip Rivers (2020) and Carson Wentz (2021), who both started every game before retiring or being moved. For the third year in a row, the Colts will start a new quarterback in Week 1 because Wentz is now wearing a Washington Commanders cap.
If Ryan starts in Week 1 this year and again in 2023, he’ll join Luck in what seems to be an uncommon occurrence: the Colts starting consecutive openings. The Iron Man’s days in Indianapolis may be numbered, which is terrible news for a franchise that has only won one postseason game since the start of the 2015 season.
Regardless of Ryan’s choice, will the Indianapolis Colts choose a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft?
As of this writing, the Colts possessed just one choice in the first 70 selections in the 2022 NFL Draft, at No. 42 overall. Unless they make a deal, they don’t look to have a shot at Liberty’s Malik Willis or Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, the consensus top-two quarterback prospects.
Is it possible for the Colts to use their second-round selection on a quarterback? Sure. Should they do so? Well…
Ryan, the Colts’ starting quarterback for 2022, seems to be someone who wants to stay in the game for at least another two years. If the four-time Pro Bowler continues to perform well, he may be able to keep a potential replacement on the bench until 2024, which isn’t ideal considering the current quarterback market. By that time, the Colts could have a chance to replace Ryan with a younger, more experienced quarterback.
Since picking Luck first overall in 2012, the Colts haven’t picked a quarterback that early; the current administration, headed by general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Frank Reich, drafted former Texas star Sam Ehlinger in the sixth round last year.
In the latter stages, someone like Iowa State’s Brock Purdy or Notre Dame’s Jack Coan could be able to wow the Colts enough to earn a Day 3 pick. Alternatively, the Colts might hope for a chance to sign an undrafted free agent and develop him over the following several years.
For the time being, the Colts are Ryan’s team, and he’ll get a chance to achieve what Wentz couldn’t: make the playoffs. After that, we’ll see whether he can outperform Wentz in another area and win the starting job again in Week 1.
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