Jaguars' star set up to potentially cause a shift in the market financially
The Jacksonville Jaguars are going into the 2023 season with a lot on the line – more than they did the year before, but especially when it comes to some of their players and the contracts they could earn next offseason.That happens when you exceed expectations; the next expectations are sped up, just like they […]
The Jacksonville Jaguars are going into the 2023 season with a lot on the line – more than they did the year before, but especially when it comes to some of their players and the contracts they could earn next offseason.
That happens when you exceed expectations; the next expectations are sped up, just like they are for the Jaguars. Not only do they have to do at least what they did last year again, but they also have to retain everyone from this upcoming season, going into 2024. That alone is hard enough.
The Jaguars could have a hard time doing that for one player, especially if things go the way everyone expects them to go. That player is none other than Calvin Ridley, who is a guy that has been out of the league, technically, for over a year, and now has the opportunity to cause a shift in the wide receiver market.
Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars: Ridley is a wild card here, given his talent and prior production. Ridley's contract tolled to 2023 due to his season-long suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy. When he takes the field for the Jaguars this fall, Ridley will be two seasons removed from his breakout 2020 campaign with the Falcons (1,374 receiving yards, nine touchdowns). Still, he has high production potential catching passes from Trevor Lawrence in Doug Pederson's offense. -Anthony Holzman-Escareno, NFL.com
Ridley was amazing before everything went down. At one point, he was considered a top-five receiver in the league when Julio Jones was in and out of the lineup due to injury. Ridley stepped up that season and made 2020 his best yet, racking up nearly 1,400 receiving yards and nine touchdowns – on a bad team. The Atlanta Falcons ended 4-12 that year due to bad coaching, bad quarterback play at times, and a handful of other things.
After his incident, Ridley is set up to have a fresh start, and this season is huge for him. Not only is it his first year back, but it's also a contract year for him. Per Over the Cap, Ridley is set to make $11 million this year, and when his 2023 season is over, he will be a free agent.
Based on how his 2023 season goes and the trajectory of his career before everything went down (i.e., the 2020 season), Ridley can cause a shift in the receiver market. That doesn't mean he will be the highest paid, but he could make a lot of money, maybe more than he deserves, which could cause other teams to start overpaying for certain guys.
The Jaguars already did this once with Christian Kirk last offseason. They signed Kirk to a four-year, $72 million contract, with $37 million guaranteed. A lot of people, well, most people, thought that was absurd based on what he had done prior. But he ended up being their best receiver last year and was worth the money.
So, will the Jaguars take a gamble like that on Ridley in the 2024 offseason? If he does well, this could happen, and be expected to see someone cause a shift in the market.
Featured Image Via Corey Perrine / Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
