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NFL free agency: Indianapolis Colts cut quarterback Matt Ryan

PeterWarrenPhoto2by:Peter Warren03/14/23

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Houston Texans v Indianapolis Colts
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 08: Matt Ryan #2 of the Indianapolis Colts warms up prior to the game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

The Indianapolis Colts are cutting Matt Ryan after just one season, according to Zach Klein of Atlanta’s ABC affiliate.

Ryan, 37, made 12 starts in his only year with the Colts, finishing 4-7-1 in those games.

He completed 67.0% of his passes during the season for 3,057 yards and 14 touchdowns. But he also threw 13 interceptions and took 38 sacks.

It was his first year playing outside of Atlanta, where he spent 14 season after being drafted third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Boston College.

Matt Ryan is a four-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro and winner of the 2016 NFL MVP award.

Matt Ryan released, more on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year is set to begin at 4 p.m. ET on March 15 when contracts running through 2022 will officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. Beginning March 13 through March 15 teams will be allowed a legal negotiation with players who are set to become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets while April 26 marks the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets. 722 players are slated to become free agents in 2023.

More on restricted, exclusive rights free agents

Players with only three years of accredited NFL experience become restricted free agents. Their original team will have the option to apply first-round, second-round, original-round, and right-of-fight-of-first-refusal tenders on players at escalating price tags. The higher the round, the more expensive the tender amount; however, if a separate team does offer a contract and the original team does not match that round pick will be conveyed from the new team to the original team. Right of first refusal only gives a team the option to match or not. If they don’t match, they get nothing in return. An original-round tender would send a draft pick from whatever round the player was drafted back to the original team if they chose not to match. The original team will have five days to match once a player signs an offer sheet from a new team.