Throwback Thursday: What if the Ravens traded for Matt Ryan in 2008?
It’s easy to look at statistics and come to the conclusion that the Ravens would have been better off with Matt Ryan. Statistics tell a twisted story:
When the Baltimore Ravens entered the 2008 NFL Draft, it was obvious that their goal was to get a franchise quarterback. Ozzie Newsome had just watched a painful combination of Kyle Boller and Troy Smith waste the 2007 season. He knew he had to get a quarterback. Trading a ridiculous amount to get Matt Ryan had to be tempting. The Baltimore Ravens would have been worse off if they had traded up to get Matt Ryan in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Matt Ryan’s success in Atlanta had a lot to do with the fact that he went to a good offense. Ryan had Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzales in the early stage of his career. If the Ravens had traded in front of the Atlanta Falcons to select Ryan, they wouldn’t be able to do much else to better their team. Baltimore would probably not have the ability to draft Ray Rice, for example.
Ravens were built for Flacco not for Ryan:
Ryan would have gone to a Ravens team that had a great defense, but didn’t have a ton of offensive talent. Ryan would have had Derrick Mason and Todd Heap, but that’s about it. In 2010 the Ravens would have been less willing to trade for Anquan Boldin because the Ryan deal would have taken draft capital for not just 2008, but 2009 as well. Baltimore would desperately need all the picks they could get in the coming years.
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The Ravens were ready to win when Flacco came on board. It wasn’t always pretty on offense, but Willis McGahee and Ray Rice were a potent combination. Rice would become the most important part of the offense in the years to come.
The Ravens ran the ball and they played good defense. Flacco was the tough and steady quarterback they needed. They were more suited to win with Flacco than they would have been with Ryan.
Ryan has proven not to come through in the clutch moments the way that Flacco has. Ryan’s Falcons surrendered a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl. Flacco didn’t lose in his Super Bowl. Sure, the San Francisco 49ers came back and made it a game, but Flacco had clutch plays that made a huge difference. He didn’t play well to start the game and shrivel up the second pressure was mounted.
Ryan is 4-6 in the playoffs. Flacco is 10-5 in postseason play. Here is why that is important to note, the Falcons invested everything in Ryan’s success. Baltimore never gave Flacco the full complement of talent. Flacco did more with less talent in the postseason. For whatever reason Flacco plays great in the playoffs but is often average in the regular season. Ryan is the exact opposite.
The Bottom Line:
Matt Ryan has always needed weapons and support around him that Flacco seldom had in Baltimore. The Ravens almost stubbornly neglected the play-making positions in the Flacco era. The Ravens would have never given Ryan the kind of offensive talent the Falcons have afforded him over the years. Flacco’s clutch an unflinching playoffs performances got the Ravens past Peyton Manning in Denver and Tom Brady in his house.
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Ryan has been the better quarterback, but the Ravens would have been worse off if they made a lopsided trade to get him. Flacco worked out just fine. Flacco is a Super Bowl MVP, Ryan most certainly is not.