Falcons near mega-deal for QB Matt Ryan

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have opened negotiations with quarterback Matt Ryan’s agent, Tom Condon, which could lead to the NFL’s first $30-million a year contract.

“We both know where Matt needs to be (financially). He needs to be here and he wants to be here and as I said, I don’t think it’s a complicated situation. It’s a deal that’s significant,” Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff said on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

If the Falcons can re-sign Ryan before the new league year starts on March 14, they would have more money to spend under the expected $178-$180 million salary cap.

Ryan, 32, was the 2016 NFL Most Valuable Player. He’s made four Pro Bowls and was the 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Ryan has a 95-63 career record in the regular season, and he’s 4-6 in the playoffs. He led the Falcons to Super Bowl LI.

Over his 10-year career, he’s thrown for more than 41,000 yards and has 260 touchdown passes.

CLICK HERE to read D. Orlando Ledbetter’s full report on myAJC.com.

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