Team might need to mend Ryan relations after pursuit of Watson.

Ryan has two years remaining on his contract, but neither GM Terry Fontenot nor coach Arthur Smith would declare him the starter for next season.

The Falcons were minding their own business, getting ready for the NFL draft, stacking their board and setting up interviews.

Then, as criminal charges were not forthcoming against Deshaun Watson, they found themselves jumping into the Watson derby with an eye toward building a championship roster. The Falcons put on a dazzling presentation for Watson on Wednesday, with Chris Olsen, senior director of football administration, playing a major role. Olsen previously worked with the Texans and knows Watson from his time there.

The Falcons, in the end, balked at guaranteeing the full $230 million Cleveland offered Watson, and he went to the Browns.

So what’s next for the Falcons? The first order of business is mending relations with quarterback Matt Ryan, who was professional throughout the courting of Watson. Ryan, the only player in franchise history to win the NFL’S MVP award, is set to turn 37 in May. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said it was not improper for fans to expect a succession plan at the position.

The team elected to pass on quarterbacks Justin Fields and Mac Jones in the NFL draft last year. The Falcons have the eighth pick in the April draft and are projected to have a shot at the top quarterbacks.

If they don’t take one this year, they can delay the succession plan for another year. Currently, Feleipe Franks, who was undrafted last season, is the only other quarterback on the roster.

The Falcons had formal interviews with several of the top quarterbacks at the combine. Caro

lina, with the sixth pick, is the only team in front of the Falcons looking for a quarterback. Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, Liberty’s Malik Willis, North Carolina’s Sam Howell and Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder are considered the top quarterbacks in the draft.

Ryan has two years remaining on his contract, but neither GM Terry Fontenot nor coach Arthur Smith would declare him the starter for next season at the end of the 2021 season or at the combine. Smith said they expect Ryan will stay with the team but wouldn’t turn down a huge trade offer. “I would say we’re going to look to add to every position and try to improve this roster,” Fontenot said.

The Falcons finished 7-10 but were outscored by 146 points. They want to try to win while rebuilding, but the point-differential might be too much to make up next season against a tougher schedule.

The Falcons have plenty of executives who have been around unique quarterback successions. Fontenot was with the Saints when they made the deal to get quarterback Drew Brees and was there throughout Brees’ tenure. Smith was a defensive quality control assistant in Tennessee when the Titans drafted Washington quarterback Jake Locker with the eighth overall pick in 2011. He was there as the offensive line/tight ends coach in 2015, when the Titans selected Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota with the second overall pick. The Titans eventually signed Dolphins castoff Ryan Tannehill, and Smith and his staff helped develop him into a quality NFL starter.

Falcons executives Ryan Pace, Ruston Webster and Phil Emery are former general managers who have comparable players from their years in the scouting game. Pace, who was with the Saints with Fontenot, recently was dismissed as Chicago’s general manager. He was in charge when the Bears selected Mitchell Trubisky in the draft over Patrick Mahomes and Watson.

Because of Ryan’s contract and the Falcons passing on Fields and Jones, the Falcons were suspect entries in the Watson recruitment. Some questioned if the team pursued Watson only to push up the price for NFC South rivals Carolina and New Orleans.

If the Falcons had landed Watson, they would have had to find a taker for Ryan’s services. Seattle and Indianapolis are in the quarterback market after trading Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz, respectively.

There also was the public-relations matter of maybe losing the respected Ryan — who’s been a model of civility and has raised millions to help the less fortunate in the city — for Watson, who faces allegations in 22 sexual-misconduct cases.

The Falcons can now get back to their draft board — after making a call or two to Ryan.

AJC 2022 Matt Ryan was professional during the team’s talks with Deshaun Watson. Owner Arthur Blank has said it’s sensible for fans to expect a plan at the QB position.

ASSOCIATED PRESS 2020 The Falcons weren’t willing to guarantee the full $230 million that Cleveland offered quarterback Deshaun Watson, so he went from the Texans to the Browns. More on Watson, B3.

AP 2022 The Falcons interviewed top quarterbacks at the combine, including Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett (above). Other top options include Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, Liberty’s Malik Willis, North Carolina’s Sam Howell and Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder.