http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9509342/matt-ryan-atlanta-falcons-finalize-nine-figure-extension-sources-say

Updated: July 25, 2013, 3:43 PM ET
By Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a five-year contract extension that will make the quarterback one of the league's highest-paid players, league sources told ESPN Senior NFL Analyst Chris Mortensen.

The extension, which came just before the first practice of training camp, guarantees Ryan $59 million, the sources said, and can be worth up to $103.75 million, for a $20.75 million annual average salary. Ryan will make $63 million in the first three years, the sources said.

Ryan's extension ranks him near Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning among the league's top-paid players.

Ryan had one year remaining on his rookie contract, but the Falcons had been working for months to lock him up for the long term. He's the face of the franchise and the team wanted to make certain he still is around when the Falcons move into a new stadium in 2017.

Ryan is coming off the best season of his five-year career and led the Falcons to last season's NFC Championship Game. Ryan has led the Falcons, a franchise that never had back-to-back winning seasons before his arrival, to five consecutive winning seasons.

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