Throwback Thursday: What if the Ravens traded for Matt Ryan in 2008?

It’s easy to look at statistics and come to the conclusion that the Ravens would have been better off with Matt Ryan. Statistics tell a twisted story:

When the Baltimore Ravens entered the 2008 NFL Draft, it was obvious that their goal was to get a franchise quarterback. Ozzie Newsome had just watched a painful combination of Kyle Boller and Troy Smith waste the 2007 season. He knew he had to get a quarterback. Trading a ridiculous amount to get Matt Ryan had to be tempting. The Baltimore Ravens would have been worse off if they had traded up to get Matt Ryan in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Matt Ryan’s success in Atlanta had a lot to do with the fact that he went to a good offense. Ryan had Julio…