SI linking washed Matt Ryan to 49ers makes no sense

The San Francisco 49ers are once again stuck in this weird middle ground regarding their quarterback status and overall chances of contention. While the roster is good enough to compete for a Super Bowl, and Kyle Shanahan’s offensive wizardry is impressive, the question of who will suit up under center remains a mystery.

With No. 3 pick Trey Lance and No. 262 pick Brock Purdy both coming off severe season-ending injuries, some prognosticators believe that San Francisco will need to consider adding a veteran signal-caller. One such prediction, however, has come way out of left field.

Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn proposed that the 49ers make a run at Matt Ryan, who followed a sterling Atlanta Falcons tenure with one incredibly disappointing season as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. This, naturally, is assuming that the Colts will release him.

While the Colts were a laughingstock last season, it’s very hard to look at what Ryan (who is considering a career in broadcasting) did and assume that he can be someone that can get the 49ers back to the Super Bowl, or even be an above-average starting quarterback in this league.

The 49ers must avoid signing QB Matt Ryan.

Shanahan and Ryan clearly have chemistry together, as Ryan won an MVP while throwing for 38 touchdowns and making it to the Super Bowl (don’t ask what happened in the Super Bowl) under Shanahan’s watch. However, it is abundantly clear that despite his accuracy (67% completion), Ryan doesn’t have the physical tools needed to thrive.

Ryan, who was thrown in and out of the starting lineup, threw for just 14 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 12 games. With 15 fumbles, five of which were lost, it is clear that the Ryan we saw in Indianapolis is not capable of carrying an offense for an extended period.

Between San Francisco’s lack of experience and comical quarterback injury luck,  the idea of adding a veteran with some connections to Shanahan makes sense. Ryan, however, may be nothing more than a one-year fix, if you can even call him a fix or upgrade.

Rolling with Purdy or Lance is a huge gamble, considering how their bodies broke down at different points in the season, Unfortunately, as tough as it may sound, going with that young, unproven duo would be a much more prudent option for the immediate and long-term future.

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