Scott Pioli spent nearly three decades working in NFL front offices, including a four-year stint as the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs. The final stop of his career was a five-year stretch as assistant general manager of the Atlanta Falcons.
One of the players drafted by the Falcons during Pioli’s time in Atlanta was wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
Earlier this week Ridley — who was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in October — was reinstated from his suspension, and Pioli joined NFL Network to rave about the receiver.
“I was there when we drafted him at the Atlanta Falcons and I love this young man,” Pioli said Tuesday on Good Morning Football. “He is a good person and a good player. I think the Jaguars got a complete steal here.
“They don’t have to do much to get him ready. All he has to do is show up and start working with Trevor Lawrence, get himself integrated into that locker room, which won’t be difficult because of the person he is, because of the worker he is. This is going to end up being a steal, I believe.”
The Jaguars will send a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Falcons as part of the trade, and will send a second-, third-, or fourth-round selection in 2024.
Trading to acquire Ridley has looked like an even better move in hindsight, due to a lackluster crop of receivers in free agency and a relatively thin class at the position in the 2023 NFL Draft.
After his reinstatement Monday, Ridley said in a statement that he intends to show the Jaguars “exactly who I am and what I represent as a player and person.” Pioli believes the Jaguars are going to be very happy with that.