NFL news: Can Matt Ryan make the Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl contenders?

The Indianapolis Colts traded for 14-year veteran QB Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons to replace Carson Wentz and solve their problem position.

New Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan hopes to follow the likes of Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford by getting to a Super Bowl with a new team straight away.
The 36-year-old left the Atlanta Falcons after 14 seasons as the Colts traded a third-round draft pick to bring him in as their newest starting quarterback.
Ryan will be the sixth different starting QB in six years for Indianapolis, who have really struggled to find a long-term fit since the retirement of Andrew Luck.
The Colts traded for Carson Wentz last summer, but sent him packing to the Washington Commanders after just one season following Indianapolis' failure to make the playoffs.
Indy looked every inch a playoff team but suffered an embarrassing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in their regular season finale to drop out of contention - making it now just two playoff appearances in eight seasons.

Can Colts become Super Bowl contenders?

Ryan mentioned Brady's move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Stafford's switch to the Los Angeles Rams as examples he wants to follow - as they both won the Super Bowl with their new teams in the first year.
With a two-year deal worth $53.9m with the Colts, Ryan hopes to be challenging for a Lombardi Trophy right away, and feels like he can still play his best even as he approaches 40.
"I've said from the start, I'd like to play as long as I can, I feel really good," Ryan said. "My body feels really good. I still feel like I can play at as high of a level that I have ever have as long as that is; nobody has a crystal ball to know exactly how long it's going to be."

Ryan also feels the Colts have a roster that can challenge with a decent defence and the league's leading running back last season in Jonathan Taylor.

"I understand I'm one part of this wheel and I need to pull my weight and do my job really well," Ryan added. "It's a pretty strong wheel that has been built.
"That's why I have to be a great teammate, do the best I can, whatever I need to do to help the guys. I'm so fired up to get to work and get on the field with these guys and try to do my part to help this team win as many games as we can."

Tough to challenge talented crop of AFC quarterbacks

Ryan switching from the NFC to the AFC just adds another big name to the conference that is absolutely loaded with talented quarterbacks.

The Colts will come up against Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Russell Wilson, Derek Carr and Mac Jones in the regular season, with Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson also possible opponents in the playoffs.

After their years of quarterback problems, Ryan is the best fix the Colts could get at this time given who was available, and he's certainly been a prolific passer in his time after notching 59,775 yards and 367 touchdowns with the Falcons.
Ryan's had 10 seasons of 4,000 passing yards and was the league MVP in 2016 and the Colts feel his maturity and leadership skills can help steer the team into the playoffs.
The team still need to address issues at tight end, receiver and left tackle to protect Ryan, but they feel they have the most important position in the sport covered.
READ MORE: Cleveland Browns make controversial trade for Deshaun Watson

More Articles