The Falcons made the decision to move on from Matt Ryan during the 2022 NFL offseason. Atlanta traded its quarterback of 14 years to the Colts on Monday in exchange for a 2022 third-round draft pick.Many a sumed that the Falcons' decision was tied directly to their pursuit of Deshaun Watson. Atlanta was among the teams in on the embattled Texans quarterback before he was traded to the Browns last Friday.However, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot insisted Wednesday that the team's decision to trade Ryan had nothing to do with its pursuit Ray Lewis Jersey of Watson. It was something the Falcons had been considering all offseason."Whether we began to explore Deshaun or not, we were already starting to discu s trading Matt this offseason," Fontenot told reporters, per .MORE: The trade wasn't born of tension between the two sides. According to Falcons coach Arthur Smith, the two sides mutually decided that it would be best for each to move on."It was very amicable," Smith said of the split, per , "and we feel like it was a win for both sides, for us long-term and Matt right now."Ryan seemed to echo the sentiment. He had nothing but love for Atlanta in a thank you letter he released to the city on Wednesday.Thank you, Atlanta.- Matt, Sarah, Marshall and Johnny Matt Ryan (@M_Ryan02) Why and how did the two sides reach this agreement? Here's what the Falcons' leadership said about their decision to trade Matt Ryan.MORE:Why the Falcons traded Matt RyanThe logic behind the Falcons' trade was simple. Ryan will turn 37 in May, and Atlanta isn't poised to be a contender in 2022, even with the weakened state of the NFC. The Falcons simply have too many holes on their roster and since Ryan was set to have a ma sive $49.5 million cap Earl Thomas III Jersey hit, they didn't have the resources needed to fill them.As such, the Falcons opted to go for a mini-rebuild (though Fontenot isn't a fan of that word). They are eating $40.5 million in dead cap space by trading Ryan, but as coach Arthur Smith pointed out, the decision to part with Ryan will give them plenty of extra resources in future seasons."It opens up a lot of salary cap space in 23 so we dont have to keep playing this game of restructures and minimum deals," Smith said of the Ryan trade, per . "Part of the compensation is what it opens up in the future for us."Indeed, the Falcons are set to have a lotof cap space in 2023 $106.8 million to be exact, per . That will position them to be buyers during that offseason and will allow them to fill whichever holes remain on their roster following the 2022 season.The third-round pick will also help Atlanta to add talent, even if the compensation wasn't as much as many thought the team would get for Ryan. Jonathan Ogden Jersey As Fontenot explained, the Falcons were willing to take lower-level compensation to trade Ryan to the Colts."It was more important to us to do right by Matt than to try to maximize compensation," Fontenot said. "We could have probably traded Matt to somewhere he didnt want to be and gotten more. We said, Brandon Carr Jersey If were going to go down this road, we want to do right by Matt.'"In the end, they did. Now, Ryan will get a chance to compete for a playoff spot while Atlanta can start its mini-rebuild in earnest.MORE:What's next for the Falcons?The Falcons are going to spend time evaluating the quarterback market. It will mark the first time in 14 years that they have to look, in earnest, for a new signal-caller.Shortly after agreeing to trade Ryan, Atlanta signed Marcus Mariota to a two-year contract. The 28-year-old quarterback was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and has experience playing for Arthur Smith.Mariota has been a backup since being benched in favor of Ryan Tannehill during the 2019 season. That said, Mariota threw for 26 touchdowns and just nine interceptions in 2016, and Smith believes that he will be a good stopgap option for the team, bare minimum."I trust Marcus," Smith said, per The Athletic. "Hes going to come in here and give us everything weve got."Mariota won't be the only option that the Falcons consider at quarterback. Fontenot says that the team will explore all available options at the position, including the top prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft."Were going to add to the position," Fontenot said. Ronnie Stanley Jersey "It could be in the draft. It could be in free agency. It could be in a trade. Were going to dig into this cla s, but were not going to feel pre sured to do anything."So, Mariota will have competition. It's just a matter of whether it will be another veteran or a prospect, like Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett.