In 2023, the Jaguars had a disastrous finish to their season. After beginning the yr 8-3, Jacksonville misplaced 5 of their final six video games. They misplaced an essential sport in Week 18 to the Titans and missed out on successful the division and the playoffs. This offseason, there’s one key free agent who nonetheless hasn’t re-signed with the staff but.
Calvin Ridley began his profession with the Falcons. The 29-year-old bumped into some authorized points with the league and was compelled to overlook the whole 2022 season. That season, Ridley was traded from Atlanta to Jacksonville. Ridley’s 2023 marketing campaign was his first with the Jaguars. Now, he’s a free agent this offseason and has two groups with curiosity. Will Ridley re-sign with the Jaguars or will he be poached and signal with the New England Patriots?
Are the Jaguars or Patriots extra more likely to signal Calvin Ridley this offseason?
“The message the Jaguars are sending by signing Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay is that they’re not bringing Calvin Ridley again..
He has a market and I do know that New England desires him” ~ @mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/jy9ZUzY0Gj
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 13, 2024
There are a number of the reason why Calvin Ridley hasn’t already re-signed with the Jaguars. First, they signed WRs Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay as free brokers this offseason. That’s on prime of Christian Kirk and Zay Jones already within the WR room plus others. Somebody would be the odd man out and that may very well be Ridley. Moreover, the Jaguars won’t have the cash to pay Ridley a long-term deal. They’ve signed a number of free brokers and re-signed a number of of their gamers this offseason.
At present, the Jags have roughly $5 million to work with in cap area after all of the strikes they’ve already made. Except Ridley is keen to take a pay minimize, Jacksonville should clear up extra money. Final season, the veteran WR performed on a fifth-year possibility picked up by the Falcons in 2021. It was price $11.1 million. At this stage in his profession, Ridley is probably going in search of a long-term deal. The Jaguars are in a scenario the place they don’t have the cash to resign the proficient WR.
Let’s say Calvin Ridley goes again to Jacksonville for ~ $20M. Which means their WR room consists of:
Calvin Ridley: $20MChristian Kirk: $18MGabe Davis: $13MZay Jones: $8MEvan Engram at TE: $13.75M
That’s plenty of funding at talent positions even with TLaw on a rookie deal
— Arjun Menon (@arjunmenon100) March 13, 2024
In 17 video games began and performed for the Jaguars in 2023, Calvin Ridley had 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the staff in receiving yards final season and was second in receptions. Christain Kirk would have been an even bigger a part of their offensive sport plan however he missed 5 video games resulting from damage. If the Jags can’t re-sign Ridley, there’s one other staff with actual curiosity in Ridley. The New England Patriots have $60 million in cap area to work with this offseason. That’s greater than sufficient to signal Ridely to a brand new long-term deal.
On prime of all this, draft compensation comes into play for Ridley as nicely. If Ridley indicators with the Jags earlier than 4:00 p.m. EST at this time, Jacksonville owes the Falcons a second-round decide. Anytime after that, the Jags will owe the Falcons a third-round decide as an alternative of a second. We’ll have to attend and see if the Jags can get a deal executed with Ridley this offseason. As of now, Jacksonville and New England are the highest two suitors for Ridley.
