What if the top four picks in the 2021 NFL draft are quarterbacks? It would be historic. It’s a near certainty that the top three will be. The question then becomes what do the Atlanta Falcons do at No. 4.
Yes, they restructured Matt Ryan’s contract to free up cap space in 2021. In doing so, they made it more difficult to move him in the future. Cutting or trading him in 2022 comes at a cost of $40 million in cap space. Doing so in 2023 would cost a more manageable $15 million.
But the move reflects the current 2021 cap crunch more than Atlanta’s desire to keep Ryan around longterm. Cutting or trading him in 2023, prior to his age 38 season, could be a realistic option.
It also comes down to this: Teams never know when they’ll have another chance at a top-five pick. Now is the time to draft a young quarterback. There’s no guarantees the Falcons will be in position to grab one next year.
Without further ado, the quarterback crazy mock draft. Is it really so crazy?