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This past regular season wasn't ideal for year one of Calvin Ridley in Jacksonville, as he showed flashes of why they traded for him, but drop issues and a lack of consistency held him back from being a true top option. However, he made $11.1 million in 2023 with a valuation of $14.6 million, per Over The Cap.
Considering it's his first chance to secure a second contract since being drafted, Ridley will likely be looking to cash in and get some long-term security. PFF projects he will be worth around $17 million a year for three years on the open market.
Is Jacksonville going to retain Calvin Ridley? Where could Calvin Ridley go if he leaves the Jaguars? Let's take a look.
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Will The Jaguars Re-sign Calvin Ridley?
Jacksonville heads into the offseason with over $24 million in cap space, but OLB Josh Allen is set to be an unrestricted free agent. Signs point to the Jaguars using the franchise tag on Allen, projected to cost them almost $23 million this season. They will likely need to cut either OT Cam Robinson or CB Darious Williams to create the cap necessary to retain Ridley.
In the trade with Atlanta to acquire Ridley, the Jaguars sent a third-round pick that will become a second-round pick if Jacksonville signs him to an extension. Thus, it's likely they will let him hit the open market but still try to bring him back to retain their pick. The risk of doing that is if Ridley hears an offer he can't pass up, they might just lose him altogether.
ESPN Clears Up Parameters of Calvin Ridley Trade Between Falcons and Jaguars https://t.co/OfeRjpqFeu
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) February 18, 2024
Jacksonville does have solid pass catchers in Evan Engram, Christian Kirk, and Zay Jones, but it's unlikely the team will be okay with making the room worse as Trevor Lawrence enters the final years of his rookie deal. The Jaguars are likely to try to bring Ridley back, but he could be playing somewhere else if a team can lure him away with a big offer.
Which Teams Would Be The Best Fit For Calvin Ridley?
If the Jaguars don't work something out with Ridley, some potential landing spots include the Falcons, Bears, and Chiefs. Atlanta enters the offseason with nearly $40 million in cap space. While they are likely to spend a solid chunk on a quarterback, adding Ridley would give them one of the best pass-catching trios in the NFL in terms of talent.
Chicago has a ridiculous $80 million in cap space, and they are likely to save a significant portion by drafting Caleb Williams and not paying Justin Fields. Adding Ridley along with D.J. Moore and a few other moves could make the Bears one of the league's better offenses right away.
Where will Calvin Ridley play next szn? 👀 pic.twitter.com/lsJkhCezsD
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) February 17, 2024
To no surprise, the back-to-back champs adding a talent like Ridley would be dangerous. The complications here lie with how the Chiefs would pay him, as they already have decisions to make on L'Jarius Sneed and Chris Jones.
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