ATLANTA - For the first time since 2008, the Atlanta Falcons will be breaking in a new quarterback.
That's hardly their only concern after trading Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts.
While general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith shy away from the word "rebuilding," it's clear this team faces some very serious challenges in the short term. Namely, a staggering hit to its salary cap flexibility with some $62 million in dead money - that involving players no longer on the roster.
Fontenot and Smith both insist it will all be worth it beyond 2022.
"We're taking in on the chin this year," Fontenot said Wednesday. "But where that leaves us next year is significant."
Beyond their salary cap woes, the Falcons have some serious public relations work to do. Already faced with a lethargic fan base after four straight losing seasons, they are now dealing with the perception that Ryan's departure was hastened by their unsuccessful pursuit of quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Accused of sexual misconduct by nearly two dozen women, Watson sat out last season while remaining on the roster for the Houston Texans and demanded a trade; a grand jury recently declined to indict him on criminal charges. Even though Watson still faces a plethora of civil cases, the Falcons were among at least four teams that met with him in hopes of getting him to agree to a trade from the Texans.
It appeared the Falcons were among two finalists, along with the New Orleans Saints - a fellow NFC South Division team and Atlanta's top rival - until Watson had a change of heart and worked out a fully guaranteed, $230 million deal with the Cleveland Browns. After their very public pursuit of Watson fell apart - and it's still not clear how they could have afforded him when Ryan's contract was such a burden - the Falcons had little choice except to hastily work out a deal for their longtime starter behind center.
Fontenot and Smith wouldn't go into much detail about Atlanta's talks with Watson, nor would they acknowledge any pressure from team owner Arthur Blank to bring in a player who might fill up thousands of empty seats that have become commonplace on fall Sunday afternoons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
"We made a collective decision to explore it," Fontenot said.
Added Smith: "Matt and I had several conversations. Obviously, we've had a lot of transition here. Matt understood there could be a succession plan for us at quarterback because of where we are at and where he is in his career."
Fontenot acknowledged the Falcons didn't get top value for Ryan, who in the 2016 season was the league MVP and led the franchise to only its second Super Bowl Appearance. He has thrown for the eighth-most yards in NFL history and has missed only three games in his 14-year career.
The Colts were able to acquire Ryan, who turns 37 in May, for a mere third-round draft pick because, as Fontenot put it, the Falcons didn't want to put the quarterback through protracted trade talks or not give him a say in where he was dealt.
"It was more important for us to do right by Matt than trying to maximize compensation," said Fontenot, adding that Ryan didn't have a no-trade clause. "Yeah, we probably could have opened it up to every team and traded Matt somewhere he didn't want to be and gotten more compensation."
AP photo by David Goldman / Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, left, speaks with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan at an NFL preseason game on Aug. 14, 2015, in Atlanta. Ryan was traded this week to the Indianapolis Colts, and Mariota has signed with the Falcons after two years as a backup for the Las Vegas Raiders.After dealing Ryan on Monday, the Falcons quickly agreed to a contract with his apparent successor, Marcus Mariota.
The No. 2 overall pick when the Tennessee Titans selected him in 2015, Mariota failed to hold his starting job in his fifth season and spent the past two years backing up Derek Carr with the Las Vegas Raiders. Mariota, 28, will get a chance to revive his career with Smith, his former offensive coordinator in Tennessee.
"There's been a lot of growth from him and myself," Smith said. "He's going to come in here and give us everything he's got. He's a high-end talent."
Ryan's long-term successor could come through the draft. While this isn't considered a banner year for quarterback prospects, the Falcons could find someone to their liking with the No. 8 overall pick.
Fontenot said the team has, or will have, representatives at pro days this week featuring Malik Willis of Liberty, Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh, Matt Corral of Ole Miss and Desmond Ridder of Cincinnati.
"If we feel there's a great quarterback at whatever pick, we'll take a quarterback," Fontenot said. "If we don't, we're not going to reach for something we're not excited about."
The trade of Ryan, combined with last summer's deal that sent veteran star receiver Julio Jones to the Titans and the release of pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. after he proved a bust as a free-agent signee, has left the Falcons with far more dead cap space than any other NFL team.
Smith insisted putting a quality product on the field remains possible.
"I don't like the rebuilding tag," the second-year coach said. "Our charge is to go out and compete and play better team football than we played last year. We're going to compete now - and build for the future."
AP photo by David Becker / Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) leaps to try to avoid Los Angeles Chargers safety Alohi Gilman during the NFL regular-season finale on Jan. 9 in Las Vegas.