Contract Terms
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is signing a four-year, $92 million contract with the Tennessee Titans, agents David Mulugheta and Reza Hesam told multiple media outlets on Wednesday. The contract includes $50 million guaranteed.
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Fantasy Football Impact
As Profootballtalk.com's Myle Simmons framed it, "There has been a surprising development with one free-agent receiver just after the start of the new league year."
Many observers were predicting right up to the moment this news broke that Ridley was most likely to return to the Jaguars -- although the Patriots were said to be pushing for the wideout.
Ridley even said in January that he wanted to return to the Jaguars in 2024 because of the relationships he built and not wanting to have to learn another offensive system. Still, he wasn't sure if that would happen and that money would be a factor.
Turns out the latter points were most pertinent.
Ridley, 29, was suspended for the entire 2022 season for violating the league's gambling policy. But after the Jaguars acquired him during the suspension, he returned in 2023 to start all 17 games for the franchise. He caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards with eight touchdowns, leading Jacksonville in yards and TDs.
The No. 26 overall pick of the 2018 draft, Ridley's best season came in 2020 when he caught 90 passes for 1,374 yards with nine touchdowns in 15 games. In 2021, he stepped away from football to focus on his mental health, ending the year with 31 receptions for 281 yards with two touchdowns in five games.
Now, Ridley is set to join an offense under first-year coach Brian Callahan that includes holdovers Will Levis, DeAndre Hopkins, Treylon Burks, Chigoziem Okonkwo, and running back Tyjae Spears. Another newcomer, Tony Pollard, who agreed to terms with the team on Monday, is also in the mix.
This move drew mixed reviews.
Footballguy staffers Dave Kluge and Jason Wood aren't keen on it.
Kluge posted on X, "Why extend a young and ascending receiver like A.J. Brown when you can simply give Hopkins and Ridley a combined $118 million?"
It's a fair point. Rich Eisen Show producer Chris Brockman added to it by noting, "Brown is 26 years old, and the Titans didn't want to pay him as much as they're now paying 29-year-old Ridley."
Wood was more direct.
"Giving Ridley $50 million guaranteed when your roster has massive holes in marquee positions is absurd," he wrote.
Wood added that Ridley isn't a WR1, in his opinion, and he's being paid to be an alpha target hog. Levis is the QB. They already have Hopkins. And an awful offensive line. "I know Callahan is a miracle worker," Wood continued, "but we will see."
To be fair, USA Today NFL editor Doug Farrar likes this move.
"The Titans needed a legit X iso receiver, and they absolutely got one in Ridley," Farrar wrote. "Straight-line speed, route precision on crossers and overs, and the ability to beat press right off the line. And he ripped Tennessee's defense to shreds last season."
So, as Wood suggests, we will see.
But Tennessee's new offensive coordinator, Nick Holz, coached Ridley last year in Jacksonville. According to NFL Network's Peter Schrager, the two had a great relationship; Ridley has a familiar face and ally in the building.
FOX Sports' Ben Arthur notes Ridley's connections to Tennessee don't stop with Holz. Assistant GM/Personnel Anthony Robinson was on the Falcons' scouting staff for many years and played a crucial role in Atlanta's decision to draft him.
Before we can set accurate expectations for Ridley, we need to set expectations for this offense. Determining that will be a process. So, short of that, let's make some rough calculations.
Hopkins finished last season as WR23. Ridley was WR27 in Jacksonville. Believing the two will cap each other's ceiling isn't a reach. Big games are possible from both, but most likely at different times.
Our initial view is that Ridley is destined for fantasy WR3 production. He currently resides in the WR38 spot on the Footballguys 2024 Draft Rankings.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
While Levis is in a position to benefit from the additional firepower, Kluge, who likes the quarterback, isn't sure the second-year man can support all his weapons. Adding to those concerns, at least mildly, the Titans signed former Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph today.
Levis sits at QB28 on our initial rankings. Adding another weapon capable of high-end play might bump him into the tail end of the QB2 range, but not much higher.
Hopkins is WR37 on our rankings. He'll likely slide a bit on this news.
Those hoping for a Burks Year-3 or Okonkwo post-hype breakouts will likely be disappointed. The move seems like a wash for Spears and Pollard, who pose difficult decisions similar to those facing investors in Ridley and Burks.
In Jacksonville, we expected Ridley to move on after the team signed Gabe Davis. Now that we know Ridley is out of the picture, Christian Kirk and Evan Engram are likely beneficiaries in terms of locked-in volume.
Stock Watch
Risers
Fallers
Overview
According to multiple reports, Calvin Ridley has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Titans. Ridley was rumored to be deciding between sticking with the Jaguars or signing with the Patriots. Instead, he'll join one of Jacksonville's division rivals. Initial reports indicate Ridley's deal is worth $92 million, with $50 million fully guaranteed. That's WR1 money, but it's not clear that the Titans have the quarterback in Will Levis or the overall offensive firepower to maximize Ridley's potential.