Tag: Calvin Ridley

Where Calvin Ridley’s contract ranks after Amon-Ra St. Brown extension

Calvin Ridley’s contract dropped on the list of the highest-paid WRs after Amon-Ra St. Brown’s extension.

When the Tennessee Titans signed wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year contract worth $92 million that included $46.9 million guaranteed, they received no shortage of criticism for the deal.

However, as was predicted, Ridley’s contract is quickly falling down the list of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL after some recent extensions.

First, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith got his bag, inking a three-year, $75 million deal, exceeding Ridley’s in terms of annual average.

Then, on Wednesday, Detroit Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown blew Ridley’s deal out of the water completely when he reportedly signed a four-year deal worth more than $120 million, including $77 million guaranteed.

With those two deals, Ridley has now fallen to No. 11 in annual average, No. 3 in fully guaranteed money, and No. 6 in total value, per Over the Cap.

And, bear in mind, guys like Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb are set to get theirs in the near future.

With the kinds of deals being handed out to wide receivers now, Ridley’s deal is looking more and more like a bargain with each passing day.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

NFL draft rumors: Jaguars linked to potential Brandon Aiyuk trade

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah is the latest in league circles to link the Jaguars with trade talks regarding 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk.

As the 2024 NFL draft inches closer and dominoes continue to fall in the league’s wide receiver market, all eyes are on San Francisco and the status of star 49ers’ pass-catcher, Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk has been the subject of seemingly endless trade rumors this offseason as a long-term contract extension with San Francisco has evaded him thus far. He’s currently slated to play the 2025 campaign on his fifth-year option, worth just over $14.1 million fully guaranteed, and has been eligible for a new deal since March 2023.

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah added fuel to that fire on Wednesday, one day before the draft, saying on social media that the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts continue to stand out as potential trade partners for Aiyuk as he projects the selection ceremony’s results.

“Looking at possible teams for an Aiyuk trade and I keep coming back to the same two,” Jeremiah wrote, “Colts & Jags.”

Freshly removed from his second-consecutive season of 75+ receptions, 1,000+ yards and seven-plus touchdowns, Aiyuk, a late-first-round pick in 2020, is believed to be demanding a long-term deal with a salary and guarantees in range with the NFL’s top-paid receivers.

Detroit’s four-year, $120 million extension of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on Wednesday, and other big-dollar contracts awarded this offseason to pass-catchers like Tennessee’s Calvin Ridley, Philadelphia’s Devonta Smith and Indianapolis’ Michael Pittman Jr. set a pretty high bar for San Francisco to meet.

The 49ers currently rank No. 24 in the NFL in effective 2024 cap space with $6,391,025 available, and No. 31 in that department with negative funds accessible for 2025, according to Over the Cap.

Trade rumors are probable to surround Aiyuk until a deal is reached or a trade is dealt, as a result. Following Ridley’s jump from Jacksonville to Tennessee in free agency, the Jaguars have a need at the position and therefore have been pegged as potential suitors for Aiyuk consistently.

The presence of former 49ers vice president of player personnel and director of college scouting, Ethan Waugh, in the Jaguars’ front office lends credence to those theories. He was part of the San Francisco staff that scouted and drafted Aiyuk in 2020.

Should San Francisco be willing to part with Aiyuk via trade, a first-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft is considered likely to be required from a prospective buyer to complete the deal. Jacksonville owns the No. 17 pick.

Through four pro seasons and 62 regular season appearances, Aiyuk has tallied 269 receptions for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns. He’s also scored twice rushing.

Report: Jaguars ‘have explored moving up’ in 2024 NFL draft

According to SI’s Albert Breer, the Jaguars are considering a trade-up in the 2024 NFL Draft. Will Jacksonville pull it off?

Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.

The days and weeks leading up to the NFL draft can become cluttered with rumors and reports, some valuable and others not so much. Ultimately, the draft is difficult to predict.

But based on intel he’s gathered from personnel staff across the league, Sports Illustrated NFL reporter Albert Breer shared on Monday that the Jaguars have researched what it would require to trade up in the draft, adding that the top of the wide receiver class has captured Jacksonville’s interest in particular.

The reporting makes sense as it aligns, at least somewhat, with Jacksonville general manager Trent Baalke’s pre-draft comments.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

“What you need to know: The Jaguars have explored moving up—and they’ve done a lot of work on the top receivers in the draft,” Breer wrote, likely referencing Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze.

“Losing Calvin Ridley, even with Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis paid, makes that spot a priority. Failing that, corner, if either [Terrion] Arnold or [Quinyon] Mitchell are available here, shapes up as a possibility, too. Another would be a disruptive defensive tackle for new [defensive coordinator] Ryan Nielsen’s scheme—maybe [Byron] Murphy [II], if he slides a bit, or Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (who’s coming off a foot fracture).”

Of note, John Shipley of Jaguar Report noted last week that the Jaguars are “extremely high” on Nabers at the wide receiver position, specifically.

Although Baalke didn’t explicitly say the Jaguars are eyeing a trade-up for a certain position or prospect, he was complimentary of the cornerback and wide receiver groups while speaking with reporters on Thursday, as well as the crop of offensive linemen.

He also referenced the homework Jacksonville has conducted on a handful of picks in front of the Jaguars in the draft order, in the event a prospect of the team’s intrigue slips down the board.

“We know who’s willing to move and we’ve had preliminary discussions on what that looks like, what it’s going to cost to move up there,” Baalke said.

“You have exploratory conversations, you know what it’s going to take you to get to the 12 or 13, 14, 15 [pick] or whatever the number is, and then you wait until draft day to figure out whether you’re going to do it or not.”

The first round of the 2024 NFL draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Having admitted he isn’t keen on trading up before the event unless it’s for the first pick, don’t expect Baalke to strike a first-round deal until it’s underway, if at all.

2024 NFL draft: Jaguars seven-round mock

2024 NFL draft: Jaguars’ biggest positional needs

2024 NFL Draft: Trent Baalke previews Jaguars’ first-round approach

L’Jarius Sneed: Titans’ WR duo can help me improve my game

Titans CB L’Jarius Sneed believes practice reps against WRs Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins will help him improve his game.

When it comes to matchups between cornerbacks and wide receivers during Tennessee Titans training camp, there’s going to be a whole lot of iron sharpening iron in 2024.

The Titans added to their receivers room with the signing of Calvin Ridley, who joins the team’s No. 1 receiver, DeAndre Hopkins. On the other side of the ball, Tennessee inked Chidobe Awuzie and traded for L’Jarius Sneed to massively upgrade their secondary.

During a recent interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Sneed shared his excitement at the prospect of going against Ridley and Hopkins in practice because both can help him improve his game.

“To get out there and work with them elite wide receivers, I never had two elite guys like them, going up against them every day,” Sneed said. “I had great players, but them two guys, household names, they stick out. I can’t wait to get to work with those guys.

“I know they’re gonna make me better in practice, and I can’t wait to pick both of their brains on how to get better. What they see. What my weakness is from their eyes and not from other guys I’ve been playing with for four years. I want new guys looking from the outside in.”

Sneed also mentioned how he wasn’t happy about getting the franchise tag from the Kansas City Chiefs but he’s thrilled about going to Tennessee because the Titans wanted him.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Patriots’ miss on Calvin Ridley looks even worse with latest comments

Did the Patriots drop the ball in the failed Calvin Ridley signing?

Free agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley was thought to be a surefire New England Patriots target at one point.

In fact, the Tennessee Titans didn’t even think they would have a chance at landing him. Titans general manager Ran Carthon made interesting comments earlier this week about landing the wide receiver.

Ridley is coming off a productive season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He tallied 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a major weapon for the Jaguars last year and could have served in the role of No. 1 wideout in New England.

Instead, he fell into the lap of Tennessee, which took Carthon by surprise.

“To actually have the opportunity to even consider him was something that we had a part of our plan, but in our mind, really, it was more of a pipe dream. Can we afford these guys and get Ridley?” Carthon said.

Hearing these comments really illustrates how Ridley was up for grabs.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft claimed missing out on Ridley was not due to financial difficulties, but it does make you wonder if the Patriots could’ve made a harder push.

Titans’ Calvin Ridley signing called ‘bad business’ by unnamed exec

The Athletic asked executives around the NFL about their thoughts on free agency and one called the Titans’ signing of Calvin Ridley “bad business.”

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the Tennessee Titans made a big splash by adding free-agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley last month.

The move excited a fanbase that has been starving for an improved passing attack. The veteran receiver will now join a receivers room that also features DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks.

While some initially balked at the price tag, others realized that’s just the price of doing business these days, especially when signing the top option available at the position.

Ridley’s $50 million in guaranteed money is just the tenth-highest amount among all receivers. That ranking will fall even lower once top receivers like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase — to name a few — ink extensions.

However, not everybody thinks the deal was smart from the Titans’ perspective.

The Athletic’ Mike Sando recently ran a piece in which multiple NFL executives were interviewed about free-agent moves around the league. These execs anonymously gave their thoughts on each team’s signings.

One exec didn’t hold back when it came to the Titans and Ridley.

“There is a walk-away point on some of these deals, and paying high-dollar numbers to a 29-year-old receiver now on his third team in three years amounts to bad business,” the exec declared.

A different exec went on to question the direction the Titans went in general with their signings.

“They went receiver, center, corner, linebacker and running back, all at $7 million a year or more,” the exec said. “Now look at Carolina. Both teams overpaid, but Carolina made all their moves up front, so you could see what the plan was. If you are going to overpay, overpay with intention.”

Another exec had a more positive view of Tennessee’s signings as a whole, saying, “Calvin Ridley is a baller and arguably the top receiver available. L’Jarius Sneed was the best cornerback available. (Lloyd) Cushenberry gives them a (26-year-old) starting center. (Chidobe) Awuzie is average, but they needed someone there because their draft picks haven’t done it.”

Sure, at face value, the Ridley deal doesn’t look great.

However, what this executive failed to mention is that Ridley doesn’t have the wear-and-tear of a 29-year old after missing almost two full seasons.

Ridley returned to the NFL in 2023 and didn’t look like he missed a beat. The receiver caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. That type of production next to Hopkins could give the Titans one of the league’s most potent wide receiver duos.

The exec called the Ridley deal “bad business,” and I disagree. What’s “bad business” is going into a pivotal season and not doing everything you can to supply your young quarterback with weapons.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Titans’ deal with Calvin Ridley listed among free agency’s riskiest

Bleacher Report believes the Titans’ deal with Calvin Ridley is one of the riskiest of free agency.

The Tennessee Titans inking wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal received no shortage of criticism from the national media, which, in all honesty, is quite short-sighted.

Did the Titans pay a lot for Ridley? Absolutely, especially when you factor in the $50 million guaranteed in his deal. However, context is needed here.

The Titans desperately needed help at receiver for their young quarterback, Will Levis. And, with Ridley in tow, the Titans now have one of the better one-two punches at the position in the NFL, which will greatly help their signal-caller, who still has to prove he’s “the guy.”

Adding to that, Ridley was the best available player at the position, thus he was always going to command a big deal.

Despite all that, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes the deal the Titans gave Ridley is among the riskiest of any of the deals handed out in free agency this offseason.

That Ridley is talented is undeniable—he caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight scores a year ago in his lone year with the Jaguars and posted a 90/1,374/9 line with the Atlanta Falcons back in 2020.

But Ridley missed most of the 2021 season while dealing with mental health issues and sat out the entire 2022 campaign due to a gambling suspension. Ridley may well have elite potential, but he doesn’t have an elite wide receiver’s resume.

The Titans are paying him as though he does—his $23 million average annual salary ranks ninth among all wide receivers and ahead of the likes of Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Keenan Allen of the Los Angeles Chargers and Amari Cooper of the Cleveland Browns.

Unless Ridley makes a Chase-esque impact in Nashville, it won’t take long for this deal to look like an overpay.

For the Titans, the fact that Ridley missed over a season and a half is a positive, as the 29-year-old has more tread on the tire than most wide receivers his age.

Those two years are sandwiched in between a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns, including a 2020 season in which he tallied 1,374 yards, tied for fifth-most in the NFL. He then rolled off the couch in 2023 and broke 1,000 yards again, despite the Jacksonville Jaguars not using him properly.

Has Ridley totally proven he’s an elite receiver? No, but the signs sure are there that he can be.

As far as the contract is concerned, it’s true that Ridley is making an annual average that ranks No. 10 among wide receivers, and his fully guaranteed money ranks third.

But he’s going to fall in both of those rankings in due time, as stud receivers like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and CeeDee Lamb are all due for extensions soon.

Not to mention, Ridley’s annual average is less than Michael Pittman Jr.’s, who certainly isn’t more proven.

If things don’t pan out for Ridley in Tennessee, the Titans can reasonably get out of the contract in 2026. According to Over the Cap, the Titans can cut him with a post-June 1 designation that year to save $21.75 million while only incurring a dead-cap charge of $5 million.

The fact of the matter is, there is risk involved with any big-money deal in free agency, but Tennessee’s deal with Ridley is far from the egregious contract many have made it out to be.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Titans plan to use Calvin Ridley all over formation

Titans head coach Brian Callahan loves the flexibility his WR group offers, and specifically when it comes to Calvin Ridley.

The Tennessee Titans have long been a run-first offense. Before the arrival of A.J. Brown and subsequently DeAndre Hopkins, Titans fans rarely saw elite receivers suit up for their favorite team.

Now, the Titans are in the fortunate position of having two highly-touted playmakers at wide receiver: The aforementioned Hopkins, who had a 1,000-yard season in 2023, will be joined by Calvin Ridley in 2024.

Ridley signed a massive four-year, $92 million deal and gives the Titans a speedster who will complement Hopkins perfectly. The team also brought back Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to provide depth. Treylon Burks and Kyle Philips are other notable receivers on the roster.

Head coach Brian Callahan is thrilled to have these weapons at his disposal, especially guys like Hopkins, Ridley and Burks, all of whom can play all over the formation, something Callahan plans to utilize.

“Being able to move Calvin around is going to be exciting,” Callahan said, per Jim Wyatt. “But I think the other guys, being able to move those guys around, too, will be helpful. Moving Hop around, trying to get him some matchups, put his skill set in good position against lesser players. We’ll see what Treylon (Burks) can do as we move him around.

“I just think it’s a good group that has some flexibility, particularly with Calvin. I think he has played all over the formation, so that part to me is exciting.”

One of the beliefs when it comes to Ridley’s inconsistent play in 2023 has to do with the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t move him around the formation much.

Based on Callahan’s comments, that won’t be an issue in Tennessee.

“You’re looking at a very similar role that Ja’Marr [Chase] played, in terms of his ability to move around the formation, use him in motion,” Callahan said on the This is Football show. “He’s got such a unique skill set. He’s got great quickness, he’s got great speed, he can run all the different routes.”

It’s notable that Callahan mentioned Burks. Many have wondered if Burks’ days in Nashvillle could be numbered after a pair of disappointing seasons. However, the coach clearly envisions the former first-rounder playing a role.

The Titans hope the new-look room will help improve on the league’s 29th-ranked passing offense from a season ago.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Robert Kraft reveals why Calvin Ridley didn’t want to play for Pats

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Calvin Ridley’s girlfriend was not a fan of going to the northeast.

Before the Tennessee Titans swooped in and signed him to a four-year, $92 million deal, the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots seemed to be finalists for wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

However, it appears the Patriots were never really a serious threat to sign him, even after they were ready to match Tennessee’s offer.

According to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Ridley didn’t want to play for New England because he and his girlfriend preferred to stay in the south.

“It was made clear his girlfriend wanted to be in the south,” Kraft said, per the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan. “He didn’t want to be in the northeast.”

Kraft also acknowledged that the team’s uncertainty at quarterback may have played a role in Ridley’s lack of desire to go to Foxborough. Talk about a reversal of fortunes for a team that sported Tom Brady for two decades.

The Jaguars, on the other hand, were a real threat to keep Ridley, as the wide receiver said he wanted to go back. However, he admitted the team made him feel “uncomfortable at times” and “it wasn’t working out” before he ultimately landed with the Titans.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Titans’ DeAndre Hopkins talks Calvin Ridley signing, ‘little brother’ Will Levis

Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins spoke about the addition of Calvin Ridley, his “little brother” Will Levis, and more.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is down in Orlando for the annual league meetings this week to spread awareness for flag football and expressed his excitement for the direction the franchise is heading.

“I’m happy, I’m smiling,” Hopkins said of the Titans’ offseason moves so far, per Jim Wyatt. “I’m trying to win a championship, and everything that Miss Amy is doing and Ran (Carthon) is doing is along those lines.

“It’s hard not to be happy about the moves we made this offseason, and where this team is going. My mindset is to win a championship this year for the Tennessee Titans, and that is how I am going to approach every day.”

Hopkins touched on the addition of wide receiver Calvin Ridley specifically and believes defenses are going to have a tough time preparing for the one-two punch he’ll form with the former Jacksonville Jaguar.

“I fell in love with his personality, and who he is as a human,” DHop said of Ridley. “Calvin is a great guy, he wants to be great and he is going to be great. Anything I can do to help him accomplish anything that he wants, that’s what I’ll do, just like the older guys did with me.

“But I think him and I on the field, it is going to be hard to kind of key in on one of us. It is only going to make defense prepare a little harder for us this year.”

With new head coach Brian Callahan, the Titans are expected to move into a more modern offense that will see them throw the ball more. Hopkins can’t wait to see how that looks, especially now that Ridley is aboard.

“I am very excited to get going under Brian’s offense, and his schemes,” Hopkins said. “Obviously I’ve talked to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and those guys told me that I would love this offense, and I think the sky is the limit, especially with a guy like Calvin. I am very excited for this offense.”

When it comes to his quarterback, Will Levis, Hopkins revealed he has been in constant contact with the second-year signal-caller and referred to the Kentucky product as “like a little brother.”

“Will and I talk all the time,” he said. “Will is like a little brother to me. Anywhere I can be instrumental in his development, I’ll do it.”

Hopkins has been quite instrumental in Levis’ development so far after being his most reliable target during a 2023 campaign in which the veteran broke 1,000 yards.

And, with a new offense that will be more pass-heavy in 2024, there’s a good chance Hopkins will post even better numbers in his second season in the two-tone blue.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]