Ridley played last year in Jacksonville, but could potentially be on the move
Next year, Calvin Ridley is expected to work out of Jacksonville or New England. The Patriots and Jaguars are the only teams left in the running to sign the wide receiver, according to a number of reports. The Patriots are reportedly pressing for him, but they think Ridley would rather stay in Jacksonville, according to ESPN. Josina Anderson, a senior NFL insider for CBS Sports HQ, reports that New England is still interested in Ridley.
The Jacksonville Jaguars acquired Ridley from the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 in exchange for conditional fourth- and sixth-round picks. Ridley served a suspension for breaking the NFL’s gambling policy. He will turn 30 years old late in 2024 and is probably hoping for his final big pay day. During the majority of the season, he was Trevor Lawrence’s top receiver with 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and 8 touchdowns.However, there were times when he and Lawrence did not mesh well, which hurt the offensive line of the Jaguars. In free agency, Jacksonville added former Buffalo Bills wideout Gabe Davis to a three-year, $39 million contract. If it keeps Ridley, Lawrence would be surrounded by that pair in addition to tight end Evan Engram and slot guy Christian Kirk.
Ridley would likely be the top pick in the draft by either Jacoby Brissett or the guy the team selects with the third overall choice if he were to arrive in New England. The Patriots severed their relationship with DeVante Parker and let tight end Mike Gesicki go free agency in order to re-sign Kendrick Bourne on a three-year, $24 million contract. They are starting a new era under new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and head coach Jerod Mayo, and they unquestionably need to improve the weapons they have at the offensive skill positions.
Timing of Ridley’s choice will also have an impact on the money from the 2022 deal that took him from the Atlanta Falcons to the Jaguars.As NFL Media points out, if Ridley re-signs with the Jaguars before the 2024 league year officially begins (4 p.m. ET Wednesday), Atlanta will be awarded a second-round selection pick by Jacksonville. But the Falcons will get a third-round pick from Jacksonville if Ridley signs with the Jags or somewhere else when the league season begins.
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