The Atlanta Falcons will aggressively pursue a new long-term contract this offseason for quarterback Matt Ryan, who's scheduled to enter the final year of his deal in 2018.
"No real comment, just the fact that it will be a focus this offseason," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Thursday when asked about the pivot's contract situation, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN. "That's one that, interestingly enough, will help create flexibility in what we're doing forward with a number of moves we may be making. Yes, Matt's focus will be the No. 1 focus."
Ryan, who was the league MVP a year ago, saw his numbers come down to around his career average this season. He'll be 33 years old at the beginning of the 2018 campaign. He's thrown for over 4,000 yards in each of the last seven seasons, and tossed for 20 touchdowns with 11 interceptions this year.
"I think it's not going to be that difficult of a negotiation, quite honestly," said Dimitroff. "I think we're going to be in a good spot with it."
Dimitroff added that he believes Ryan has plenty of elite seasons in front of him, comparing the way he takes care of his body off the field to 40-year-old Tom Brady's approach.
Ryan's current contract began in 2014. It was a five-year pact that will pay him a base salary of approximately $19 million in 2018, according to Spotrac.
