Dimitroff: Falcons, Ryan close on new contract

Could Matt Ryan take Kirk Cousins' crown as the NFL's highest-paid player?

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Tuesday on 680 The Fan that Atlanta and the 2016 NFL MVP are "close" to a new contract extension, according to Matt Tabeek of the Falcons' official site.

Cousins signed a fully guaranteed three-year, $84-million contract with the Minnesota Vikings during free agency, pushing the going rate for a top quarterback to $28 million annually.

It's unclear if Atlanta will be open to a similarly structured deal to Cousins, but it's all but certain Ryan will at least match the average salary of the former Washington Redskins passer.

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