The Jacksonville Jaguars need to decide what to do with wide receiver Calvin Ridley as free agency draws near. Despite their stated desire to bring Ridley back, there’s a good chance he’ll go up for sale. There won’t be a shortage of suitors for him if he does, which would make a return to Jacksonville doubtful.
When it comes to this year’s receiving market, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler revealed his observations and predicted that Ridley will be in high demand should he become a free agent.
Calvin Ridley, a receiver who enjoyed his time in Jacksonville, is someone the Jaguars really want to sign again, but they are aware that it may be difficult if he reaches the trade window that opens on March 11. It is anticipated that he will post an extremely impressive average per year. Teams perceive exceptional talent there.
In his column, Fowler notes that if Justin Jefferson gets a new contract, he could receive an average of $30 million a year. In a similar vein, he claims that Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Detroit Lions are negotiating a deal that would see St. Brown earn between $26 and $28 million annually on average. Even though Ridley won’t likely command as much, he might be able to surpass the $20 million threshold.
But with so many receivers vying for contracts and a strong draft class this year, Fowlers questions whether the market will slow down. That would be encouraging for the Jaguars, although re-signing Ridley could be difficult.
He was a second-round selection in 2018 and was suspended indefinitely for NFL wagering. In 2022, the Jaguars acquired him in a trade during his ban. Following his reinstatement in March of last year, he recorded his second career 1,000-yard campaign. They owe the Atlanta Falcons a third-round pick as per the terms of the trade they made to obtain him, provided he meets specific performance requirements.
If Jacksonville decides to re-sign Ridley prior to the start of free agency, they will have to send the Falcons their second-round pick in 2024 rather than their third-round selection. It will be the third if they re-sign him after the game or utilise the franchise tag, which is improbable.
Calvin Ridley should stay with the Jaguars, but they may have to prepare for his loss.
Calvin Ridley is likely to walk in free agency unless the Jaguars are prepared to part with their second-round pick. They might have a greater chance of re-signing him if, as Jeremy Fowler argues, the demand does decline.
That being said, if Ridlye is up for grabs, there will probably be no shortage of suitors. He and Mike Evans will, after all, be the preferred choices for clubs in need of receiver assistance. Since they both have more cap room than the Jaguars, teams like the New York Jets and Chicago Bears may try to sign Ridley.
The fact that the Jaguars might select Ridley’s replacement in a talented receiver class in Rounds one and two is working in their favour. Of course, unlike Ridley, the player they ultimately pick will be an unknown quantity. The good news is that they can now use the cap space they had set up for Ridley to address other position groups, like cornerback or maybe the interior offensive line.
Trevor Lawrence and the team’s brass have both expressed a desire for Calvin Ridley to return. But in the end, his return might depend on how much the Jaguars and other teams are prepared to give him when he’s allowed to sign free agency.
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