Matt Ryan’s time with the Indianapolis Colts is likely finished but there are probably still a few teams in the NFL ready to sign the veteran quarterback.
This wasn’t the way things were supposed to go. When the Indianapolis Colts acquired Matt Ryan last offseason, Indy did so with intentions for Ryan to be the team’s starting quarterback for at least a couple of seasons. However, things did not go as planned for the Colts or Matt Ryan, and now they’ll likely be parting after one season.
During that one season, Indianapolis went 4-12-1, and Ryan started just 12 games. The reason he only played in 12 games is that he was benched twice. In the 12 games he played, Indy’s record was 4-7-1 and Ryan completed 67% of his passes for 3,057 yards and 14 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Ryan also had 13 interceptions and 15 fumbles.
Ryan struggled, and he owns that. However, the Colts didn’t make things easy for him like everyone assumed they would. Indy’s offensive line was horrible, and as a result, the offense didn’t have a rushing attack, and Ryan was often on the ground and under duress. So while some are arguing that this underwhelming season should force Ryan to retire, Ryan is insisting that he wants to continue playing, and believes he has something left in the tank that he can show in the right circumstances.
Will Ryan have the opportunity to prove himself again? Considering the season he’s coming off, will any teams want to give the soon-to-be 38-year-old Ryan a chance? There are some teams in the NFL that will likely be willing to add Ryan to their roster. Let’s take a look at four of those teams.
4. Las Vegas Raiders may be willing to sign Matt Ryan
The Las Vegas Raiders are in an interesting spot because they have a talented roster, especially offensively, but they don’t have a quarterback. The Raiders recently released Derek Carr, and he signed with the New Orleans Saints. That leaves Vegas with Jarrett Stidham, and the team probably won’t be satisfied if they were rolling into the season with Stidham as their QB1.
That's why the Raiders have been linked to several veteran quarterbacks that are available this offseason. When the season first ended, the Raiders were considered a top destination for Aaron Rodgers. However, it now seems like Rodgers has his sights set on the New York Jets. Vegas has also been linked to Jimmy Garoppolo. The Raiders could even trade up and draft a rookie quarterback.
If none of that happens for the Raiders, they could explore signing Matt Ryan. Although he’s coming off an underwhelming season, he had some promising moments in 2022 that would likely shine through more frequently in the Raiders’ offense. Vegas has a competent offensive line, along with weapons like Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller, and Hunter Renfrow.