The biggest reason why Calvin Ridley is unlikely to return to the Jaguars has nothing to do with him
The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a pivotal offseason to build on what they have with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback. He is still on his rookie contract, but time is running out before an extension is done and kicks into the team's salary. Heading into his fourth season in the league, Lawrence still needs offensive weapons. […]
The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a pivotal offseason to build on what they have with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback. He is still on his rookie contract, but time is running out before an extension is done and kicks into the team's salary. Heading into his fourth season in the league, Lawrence still needs offensive weapons.
His coveted wide receiver addition for 2023, Calvin Ridley had a solid season for the Jaguars. He reeled in 76 of his 136 targets for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. Those are not bad numbers but far from the lofty expectations from the pre-season. Despite the solid outing, it is unlikely we will get an encore from Ridley in Duval County. Per ESPN's insider Adam Schefter's tweet, the odds are not in Ridley's favor to return to the Jaguars.
Is Calvin Ridley worth keeping?
The thought of another year to build on chemistry and timing with Ridley and Lawrence is enticing but is it worth the draft capital? Currently, the Jaguars have three picks inside the top 100 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Re-signing Ridley would send their second-round pick to the Falcons, who already own their third-round pick.
For a team that has issues on both the offensive and defensive line, it is hard to sell trading away a premium asset that would help fill some of their roster voids. This is a double-edged sword situation because not re-signing Ridley puts more of an emphasis on their need for pass catchers.
Jags have tough decisions to make
The Jaguars are in a lose-lose situation right now. Extend a playmaker and lose valuable draft capital or let him walk and open another void on your offense. Either way, this front office has its hands full with tough decisions. I do not expect Ridley to be a Jacksonville Jaguar in 2024 leaving the team to search for their WR1 elsewhere.
