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How the Falcons could potentially be helping the Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft

Matt Ryan Falcons

A new report indicates that the future of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan could factor into teams looking to trade with the Dolphins for the third overall pick in April’s NFL draft.

Ryan will turn 36 in May, and Falcons owner Arthur Blank indicated that when the team hires a new head coach that could end up affecting Ryan’s future with the franchise.

“Matt’s been a franchise leader for us,” Blank said. “A great quarterback. One of the leading quarterbacks in the last 13 years in the NFL. So I hope he’s going to be part of our plans going forward. But that will be a decision that I won’t make.”

Since the Falcons hold the fourth overall pick in the draft, teams with a strong need for a quarterback may look to leapfrog them by making a deal with the Dolphins.

At present, three top quarterbacks will be among the first players chosen: Trevor Lawrence of Clemson University, Justin Fields of Ohio State University and Zach Wilson of Brigham Young University.

Lawrence will almost assuredly be selected first by the Jacksonville Jaguars, which leaves at least one of the remaining signal-callers available when the Dolphins are scheduled to pick.

Any deal made with the Dolphins would presumably include multiple draft picks and depend on how many spots a team would move up to gain the third overall selection.

Earlier this week, the Dolphins indicated that there are no plans to use any high picks on a quarterback, with general manager Chris Grier expressing confidence in their top 2020 pick, Tua Tagovailoa.

The Dolphins narrowly missed a playoff berth this season and hope to again use the draft to improve the overall roster. Adding assets for the future is one way to make that happen, with the Falcons possibly helping in that regard.