Jaguars Receive: Calvin Ridley
Falcons Receive: 2023 5th-Round Draft Pick and a 2024 4th-Round Pick with a stipulation behind it that could be as high as a 2nd-Rounder.
Wow, what a Tuesday it was as the 2022 NFL trade deadline came and went. One of the biggest surprises at the trade deadline was that of suspended wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
Seeing that Ridley was suspended indefinitely for the 2022 season for placing a bet, it was surprising to see his name as one of the wide receivers being traded. The funny thing about this trade though is that Ridley placed a bet in Florida on the Falcons beating the Jaguars.
Now, Ridley is a Jaguar.
Calvin Ridley – WR1?
Let’s take a look back and get a refresher on Ridley’s history from the 2021 season until his recent suspension.
Prior to the start of the 2021 season, the Atlanta Falcons picked up Ridley’s fifth-year option. During the season, Calvin Ridley was looking like a WR1 as he was seeing 8+ targets per game. He just didn’t see any more than 80 yards in his five games played. Ridley took time off for personal reasons to work on his mental health and was put on the NFI (non-football injury) list after Week 8. He was done for the rest of the season and we were waiting for him to come back for the 2022 season.
Rumor has it, he had no intentions of ever playing for the Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons
What the Falcons get in this trade is good for them. As I stated above, Ridley had no intentions of returning to the Falcons. His fifth-year option was picked up, but due to the suspension, the contract was taken off the Falcons 2022 books and pushed out until he’s reinstated. The addition of the fifth-round pick gives the Falcons 10 draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The draft pick benefits the Falcons in many ways. If Ridley is to get reinstated by a date, it’s worth 2023 fifth, otherwise, it’s for a sixth. If he makes the team in 2024, it’s at least a fourth. If he hits the play-time milestone, it’s a third. If Jacksonville gives a long-term deal, it’s a second. The Falcons look better than we were expecting this year and are pushing to be contenders next year. What an exciting time to be a Falcons fan here.
Jacksonville Jaguars
For the Jacksonville Jaguars, they get a much-needed WR1 for Trevor Lawrence…In 2023.
Ridley can apply for reinstatement on February 23, 2023. The deal is looking on the up and up for the Jaguars in 2023 and beyond. The Jaguars will have then a 29-year-old wide receiver in Ridley along with his $11.116M fifth-year rookie option.
Christian Kirk has been playing as the WR1 for the Jaguars, but the addition next season of Ridley on the team gives this explosiveness. Kirk is currently playing on the outside, and the addition of Ridley would put Kirk back in the slot where he belongs. Ridley is that downfield threat that Lawrence needs to help get him to the next level. This team is pushing to be a threat in the NFL in 2023 and beyond.
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