The New England Patriots will keep looking for their next outstanding wide receiver. According to NFL Network, receiver Calvin Ridley has agreed to a $92 million, four-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, with $50 million guaranteed.
Even though there was a lot of media speculation that the 29-year-old will soon return to the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England maintained a cautious sense of optimism over their chances of obtaining his services. According to reports, Ridley’s offer from the Pats was “competitive” with his offer from the Jaguars.
Amazingly, the Titans seemed to have stayed a dark horse and ended up winning the race. USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Roberts USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Roberts The Jaguars still owe the Falcons a 2024 third-round pick from the 2022 deal for Ridley because of Ridley’s signing with the Titans. If Jacksonville had re-signed him prior to the start of the new league year on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, Atlanta would have been due a second-round pick.
After being selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Falcons, Ridley spent four seasons with the team. In his first four games, he tied the NFL record set by then-Pittsburgh Steelers and current Dallas Cowboys receiver Martavis Bryant for the most receiving touchdowns by a rookie (six).
In 2020, he had his greatest season ever, adding nine touchdowns and setting career highs in receiving yards (1,374) and receptions (90). He received recognition for his achievements in 2020 as a second-team All-Pro and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. It was then reported that Ridley will be suspended indefinitely through at least the end of the 2022 season for violating the league’s gambling rules, following his announcement midway through the 2021 season that he would be taking a break from football due to mental health problems.
He was dealt by the Falcons to the Jacksonville Jaguars while he was on suspension in exchange for conditional sixth-round and fourth-round picks in 2023 and 2024. He played well for the Jaguars after being added back for the 2023 campaign, logging 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns on 76 receptions while playing in all 17 games.
Related: Are The Patriots Interested In Mike Williams And Keenan Allen, The Chargers’ Receivers? The 6-1, 190-pound wide receiver, with his special combination of size, speed, and sure-catch ability, was maybe the free-agent receiver market’s prize. Ridley is renowned for his lightning-fast reflexes and smooth transitions in and out of breaks. Because of his expertise, Ridley is a skilled route runner who can outmaneuver his opponents in both zone and man coverages. With a keen eye on possible trades to be made in the next few days, the Patriots will now likely turn their focus to the remaining free agent class. A fan base that had long yearned for a game-changing wideout may find little solace in the fact that the 2024 NFL Draft receiving class is anticipated to be among the strongest and most skilled in recent memory.
