Calvin Ridley was regarded as one of the top-rated prospects in the 2018 NFL draft class. The 6’1″ star out of Alabama was the 26th overall pick and the second wide receiver drafted behind only D.J. Moore that year.
Ridley has been an efficient receiver over five seasons in the NFL but has failed to live up to the high expectations many had for him.
Over four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons he finished with double-digits in the touchdown column just once (2018) and over a thousand yard just once (2020). A move to the Jacksonville Jaguars was supposed to kickstart an ailing career but with the emergence of Evan Engram and Christian Kirk, the 29-year-old could be on the move once again.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: The #Jaguars will have to give the #Falcons a 2nd round pick if they re-sign WR Calvin Ridley, per @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/JDWE34G7F6
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) February 18, 2024
The trade to send Ridley to the Jaguars means the Falcons are already in line for Jacksonville’s third-round pick in the 2024 draft. That pick, however, would become a second-round pick if the Jaguars were to re-sign Calvin Ridley.
The terms of the agreement will provide the Falcons with a second-round pick only if Ridley is extended with the Jaguars. If he hits the free agent market and ends up returning to Jacksonville, that would not trigger the second round clause, per ESPN.
Jags GM Trent Baalke has openly stated “I love Calvin Ridley,” but whether the organization is willing to give up a high draft pick to extend the players remains to be seen.
Led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars ranked 15th in the NFL in points per game with 22.2 and finished with a 9-8 record in 2023.
