Tag: Calvin Ridley

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Wrapping up NFL free agency for 2024

2024 NFL free agency is just about in the books, so it’s time for Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar to analyze the biggest transactions in the second wave.

Now that most of NFL free agency for the 2024 league year is in the bag — though there are a few helpful players still on the open market — it’s time for Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, to recap the biggest and most important moves in the second wave of this free agency phase. Greg and Doug covered the first day of free agency last week in the Xs and Os; here’s the conclusion.

Among the discussion points:

  • What does Brian Burns bring to a Giants defensive line that already has Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence?
  • Can Justin Fields become the best version of himself in the Steelers’ offense?
  • Conversely, can Kenny Pickett turn his career around with the Eagles?
  • How can Calvin Ridley use his true X-Iso skill set to ramp up the Titans’ offense?
  • Can the Texans’ addition of Danielle Hunter, along with Will Anderson Jr. and Denico Autry, make Houston’s defensive line a Super Bowl-level group?
  • What can Hollywood Brown do for the Chiefs?
  • Tyron Smith is a future Hall of Famer, but what will he be able to do for the Jets’ offensive line in the short term?
  • Chase Young has been an inconsistent pass-rusher throughout his NFL career; can he turn it around with the Saints?
  • The Lions made important additions to their defensive line and their secondary; can all that put them over the top?
  • The Falcons already have a ton of weapons for new quarterback Kirk Cousins. How will the addition of receiver Rondale Moore affect what looks like one of like the NFL’s most explosive offenses (in theory, at least)?

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Full breakdown of Calvin Ridley’s contract with Titans

A look at the full details of WR Calvin Ridley’s contract with the Titans.

In the days after the Tennessee Titans signed him, contract details for wide receiver Calvin Ridley were revealed.

Ridley signed a four-year, $92 million deal with Tennessee that includes $46.9 million in fully guaranteed money. The annual average ($23 million) ranks 10th at the position, and the fully guaranteed money ranks third, per Over the Cap.

But, bear in mind, there are countless wide receivers slated to get extensions very soon, so he will fall in those rankings in due time.

Here’s the full breakdown of the deal, per Over the Cap:

Per Over the Cap

One good thing about this deal is the fact that Ridley only accounts for a $10 million cap hit in Year 1, giving the Titans more cap space to work with immediately.

Of course, Ridley’s cap hits rise significantly in the years that follow, but the Titans could get out of the deal in 2026 if need be with a dead-cap charge of $10 million and a cap savings of $16.75 million.

If the Titans were to cut him with a post-June 1 designation in the same year, that would lower the dead-cap hit to just $5 million and increase the savings to $21.7 million.

The exit is even friendlier in the final year of the deal in 2027, as cutting Ridley would only cost $5 million in dead cap and save Tennessee $22.2 million.

There were no shortage of haters of this deal when it was first reported, but after looking at the full breakdown, it’s clear that reaction was overblown.

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Titans’ Calvin Ridley talks time with Jaguars, working with Will Levis

Titans WR Calvin Ridley touched on his time with the Jaguars and working with a young QB like Will Levis.

Right up until the Tennessee Titans unexpectedly signed him in free agency, it looked like wide receiver Calvin Ridley was going to return to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

During his introductory press conference on Friday, Ridley said he wanted to go back to the Jags but it simply “wasn’t working out” and he was “uncomfortable at times” with the situation.

“I was just a little uncomfortable at times,” Ridley said, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “(The Titans) showed me that they want me here for a while. They told me already that they’re going to treat me as a grown man.”

A hot topic pertaining to Ridley and his time with the Jags was his inconsistent production.

Granted, he did top 1,000 yards, but he also had eight games in which he had 40 yards or less. Some blame that on Ridley himself, but others believe the Jags simply didn’t use him properly.

Regardless, the Alabama product looks at his time in Jacksonville as a win.

“I didn’t come late to nothing. I respected (the Jaguars) and everybody in the building,” Ridley said, per Terry McCormick of the Associated Press. “I look at it as a win for me personally, when I have to think about it like that. If I don’t, I’m going to think I’m a failure when I did pretty decent with two years off, I did pretty decent. I look at it as that.”

There has been concern about Ridley getting a long-term contract at the age of 29, but the former first-round pick believes that number doesn’t really reflect how he feels and he believes his arrow is pointing up.

“I’m ready to take off,” Ridley said, while also adding “I’m 29 on paper, but I’m probably like 25 for real to be honest with you.”

It’s understandable why Ridley feels that way. After all, he’s only played four full seasons in the NFL. He appeared in just five games in 2021 and was then suspended for the entirety of the 2022 campaign.

And, knowing that context, it makes his 1,000-yard season in 2023 more impressive.

As far as quarterback Will Levis is concerned, Ridley looks forward to working with the second-year signal-caller and believes his being a veteran will make communication with the Kentucky product easier.

“What I’m most excited about is that he’s young, and I’m a vet, and I feel like when you’re in that role, it’ll be a little more easier for me to talk to him and communicate with him,” Ridley said. “I’m excited that he’s young and probably willing to learn, but I’m older and willing to learn too.”

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See it: First look at Calvin Ridley in a Titans uniform

A look at what WR Calvin Ridley will look like in a Titans uniform

One of the biggest splashes of the entire free-agency period, the Tennessee Titans came out of nowhere to sign former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver, Calvin Ridley.

The reason it was unexpected was because the Titans weren’t considered one of the finalists for the veteran wideout.

However, like a thief in the night, general manager Ran Carthon swooped in and landed Ridley, who was the best available option at wideout on the market and will provide a massive upgrade for Tennessee.

The Titans introduced Ridley in a press conference on Friday, and if you haven’t gotten a chance to check it out (highlights here), you definitely should. The 29-year-old is as genuine as they come.

Shortly after introducing the former first-round pick, the Titans’ social media team released a photo depicting what Ridley will look like in the two-tone blue.

While Ridley’s jersey number has yet to be confirmed, the No. 0 he donned with the Jags last season is available.

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Titans’ updated cap space after first wave of signings

The Titans’ cap space situation after their first wave of signings.

The Tennessee Titans have made a slew of moves in free agency so far, with the team bringing back some of its own free agents, as well as signing some outside free agents.

Knowing that, it’s time to check in on what the Titans’ salary cap situation is, seeing as how they still have more moves to make.

According to Spotrac, the Titans have $52.1 million in top-51 cap space, the third-most in the NFL. Over the Cap has a slightly lower number, coming in at $48.1 million, which is also the third-most in the league based on their totals.

It’s important to note, however, that neither site includes the deals of Kenneth Murray or Saahdiq Charles yet, so the figures listed are higher than they actually are.

Regardless, the Titans still have plenty of cap space to make more big moves, if they so choose.

One reason the Titans have been able to sign all the players they have and still have a lot of cap space is because the first-year cap hits of some of the contracts are very low.

For example: Calvin Ridley’s four-year, $92 million deal has a first-year cap charge of just $10 million, per Over the Cap. Lloyd Cushenberry’s four-year, $50 million deal will cost just $6.4 million against the cap in Year 1.

It’s true, those cap numbers will certainly rise in the years ahead, but that will be in tandem with the rise of the league’s salary cap in general, so the Titans will be able to absorb them much easier.

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Titans’ Calvin Ridley gets emotional in interview with Mike Keith

Titans announcer Mike Keith asked Calvin Ridley to reflect on his career and the WR got emotional.

The Tennessee Titans introduced free-agent signing and wide receiver Calvin Ridley on Friday, with the team holding a press conference, the highlights of which you can check out right here.

But Ridley wasn’t done after that, as he also sat down for an interview with announcer Mike Keith, who managed to get the veteran wideout right in the feels with one of his questions.

Keith asked Ridley to reflect on his journey in the NFL, from being a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 to the massive four-year, $92 million deal he signed with the Titans.

That look back was enough to get Ridley emotional. Check out the clip below.

Ridley has been through a lot over the past few years, so it certainly hasn’t been easy for him to get to this point. But all that’s in the past now and Ridley is a Tennessee Titan with a lot more money in his bank account.

In what was a lighter part of the segment, Ridley allowed Keith to wear his chain for a bit.

One thing that stood out about Ridley during his media availability is how genuine he is. He’s clearly very happy to be a Titan, and we couldn’t be happier to have him.

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Calvin Ridley: ‘I really wanted to, honestly, be with the Jags’

Calvin Ridley was hopeful things would’ve worked out to keep him in Jacksonville.

Calvin Ridley is officially a member of the Tennessee Titans after signing a four-year, $92 million contract Friday. But in his first press conference as a member of his new team, the receiver couldn’t help but admit he would’ve loved to stay with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I really wanted to, honestly, be with the Jags,” Ridley said. “But there was a lot of things that wasn’t working out for me. I think the Titans had the other side for me, so I chose the Titans. And obviously the money was pretty good so I went with that.”

Ridley, 29, joined the Jaguars via a 2022 trade, but only played one season with the team. While he struggled with consistency and miscues, Ridley still managed to eclipse 1,000 yards on the year and hauled in eight touchdowns. Everyone in the building seemed optimistic that bigger things were on the way for the receiver in Jacksonville.

“I love these guys,” Ridley told reporters after the season ended in January, via Juston Lewis of the Florida Times-Union. I’ve built relationships with them, I don’t really care to learn other people and plays and all that other stuff right now, but God is gonna find out where I belong. If the money is right — I do need some of that — we’re gonna figure it out.”

Yet, it wasn’t all great for Ridley either. During his press conference Friday, he hinted at some parts of his time in Jacksonville causing frustration.

“I’m a grown man,” Ridley said. “Let me explain to you why I dropped that pass, why it looks like this, why I didn’t play good here. It’s not an excuse. I work hard and put myself in position to do good every time. It was a little uncomfortable at times, but [the Titans] showed me they want me here for a while and they told me already that they’re going to treat me like a grown man.”

Ultimately, though, it was the money that wasn’t right for Ridley and Jacksonville. While the Jaguars reportedly made a strong offer to Ridley, the Titans’ $23 million per year deal with $50 million guaranteed couldn’t be matched. And now the Jaguars will face Ridley twice a year.

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Calvin Ridley said it’s ‘chess not checkers’ in decision to sign with Titans over Jaguars

Calvin Ridley got paid, and he wasn’t afraid to defend it.

New Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley is making no apologies for agreeing to his blockbuster free agent deal on Wednesday.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly wanted to keep Ridley after he played well for them for a season, but he’ll instead head up to Nashville to join the reworked Titans under new head coach Brian Callahan and rising quarterback Will Levis to the tune of four years and $92 million.

After news of Ridley’s decision broke, the veteran wide receiver immediately took to social media to both explain his take on the deal and defend the lucrative contract that Tennessee gave him.

First, Ridley basically acknowledged how the deal played out to where he got paid handsomely by an AFC South rival after potentially re-signing with the Jaguars. “Chess not checkers,” Ridley quipped.

Second, Ridley responded to someone saying that he earned too much money on his new deal by, understandably, saying that he got the right amount.

Ridley’s agent, David Mulugheta, also shared a photo of the wide receiver celebrating the news of landing his major new contract with the Titans.

You never really know how these free agent negotiations go until the deals are agreed on between both parties, and it looks like Ridley and his team played the system like a fiddle and landed the best deal possible.

For the Jaguars, it’s a tough lesson. Sometimes, it really is chess and not checkers.

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Calvin Ridley joins the revamped Titans offense

The Titans add Calvin Ridley for their new commitment to the pass

The Tennessee Titans signed Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract that includes $50 million in guarantees. The Jaguars added Gabe Davis to cushion the blow but the Titans acquired another wideout that has an elite ceiling. Derrick Henry just moved on to the Ravens, and the Titans offense will be all new this season under head coach Brian Callahan.

The Titans have long been a run-heavy offense and the rookie Will Levis took over midway through the season. They ranked  No. 32 in pass attempts (490) and completions (302) and only No. 31 in pass touchdowns (12) last season. That’s sure to change with the addition of Ridley who joins DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks in the new offensive scheme that Callahan is importing from his years as the Bengals offensive coordinator.

YEAR TM GMS RUNS YARDS TDS PASS COMP YARDS TDS PPR PTS RANK PPR
2018 ATL 16 6 27 0 92 64 821 10 208.8 19
2019 ATL 13 2 34 0 93 63 866 7 195.0 27
2020 ATL 15 5 1 0 143 90 1374 9 281.5 5
2021 ATL 5 0 0 0 52 31 281 2 71.1 100
2023 JAC 17 9 23 0 136 76 1016 8 227.9 19

Ridley had a breakout 2020 season when he caught 90 passes for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns to end as the No. 5 fantasy wideout that year. He would step away from football in 2021 due to mental health reasons and then was suspended for the 2022 season, due to betting on NFL games.

Ridley reclaimed his career in 2023 when he led the Jaguars with 76 catches for 1,106 yards and eight scores – double that of any other team mate. He has a chance to supply the No. 1 role in Tennessee with the 31-year-old Hopkins on the downside of his career.

The Titans also added Mason Rudolph to back-up Levis, and the passing scheme will not be the league’s worst again this year. With the backfield no longer the center of the offense, Ridley has a chance to keep his career on track.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) receives a pass to bring in a touchdown past Tennessee Titans cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (0) during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024.

Calvin Ridley could be the No. 1 receiver the Tennessee Titans desperately need

The Tennessee Titans were in desperate need of a No. 1 receiver, and they got one after giving Calvin Ridley a massive new contract.

All we knew before the Tennessee Titans knocked down the door and signed former Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal with $50 million fully guaranteed was that the Jaguars and the New England Patriots were in the mix. But the Titans were in need of a top receiver, they had the space to make the deal, and by the way, Ridley tore Tennessee’s defense to shreds in two games last season — he caught 13 passes on 19 targets for 208 yards and three touchdowns.

2023 was a comeback year for Ridley — selected with the 26th overall pick out of Alabama by the Falcons in the 2028 draft, Ridley was suspended for the entire 2022 season after running afoul of the NFL’s nebulous policies against gambling. Atlanta traded him to the Jaguars on November 1, 2022.

Why Calvin Ridley’s year-long gambling suspension is a hypocritical farce

Last season, Ridley caught 76 passes in 132 targets for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. The Titans needed a receiver of his caliber, and while some may see it as an overpay, general manager Ran Carthon and new head coach Brian Callahan obviously disagree with that