Former Packers player reveals team considered trading for Calvin Ridley

The Green Bay Packers didn't trade for any wide receiver via trade last year, but they evaluated several scenarios for doing so. Another one of them has surfaced, as former Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert posted on social media that Green Bay considered trading for wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who ended up being traded from the […]

Wendell Ferreira — NFL News Writer

Oct 20, 2023 7:16 AM EDT

When I was in Green Bay, I was told that the Packers had inquired about trading for Calvin Ridley prior to his suspension, but ultimately decided not to when his status went up in the air.

He could have really elevated that offense and would have been a good fit for all the…
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) October 20, 2023

In March 2022, the NFL announced Ridley would be suspended for at least one year for betting on games, including on his own team. He had played for the Falcons for four seasons. That's, according to Benkert, when the Packers gave up. The Falcons were entering a rebuilding phase, and that's why they considered trading Ridley away.

After the suspension, there was still a market for the talented receiver. He was traded right before the deadline to the Jaguars for a conditional 2023 sixth-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick. The first one became a fifth because he was reinstated by the league. The 2024 pick can become a third-rounder based on playing time or even a second-rounder if he signs an extension next offseason.

Ridley had 3,342 yards over four seasons with the Falcons. In his first year with the Jaguars, he's had 363 yards and two touchdowns over six games. His yards per game average (60.5) would be first on the Packers roster, slightly ahead of Christian Watson (58.0), who's had 116 yards in two games.

Even though Ridley has had impressive total numbers, his first season with the Jaguars has had its ups and downs too. He had two great games, against the Indianapolis Colts in week 1 and against the Buffalo Bills in week 5, combining 15 catches for 223 yards in those two. Other than that, he had four games below 50 receiving yards, including three drops. But he's been an instrumental part of the Jaguars offense, generating a 100.9 passer rating for Trevor Lawrence when targeted.

Calvin Ridley is playing under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. He’s technically on his sixth season, but his contract tolled in 2022 because of the suspension. The wide receiver is slated to be a free agent in 2024.

After trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders last year, the Packers considered several scenarios to reinforce the offense in what would be Aaron Rodgers' final season in Green Bay. They explored a deal for Jerry Jeudy and offered the Pittsburgh Steelers a second-round pick for Chase Claypool — the Steelers got a similar offer from the Chicago Bears, and agreed to that thinking (rightfully so) the Bears pick would be higher.

In the end, the Packers didn't make any aggressive moves for veterans — they only signed Sammy Watkins for a small deal, and he was cut during the season. The most aggressive move was to deal their two late second-rounders to move up in the draft and select Christian Watson. Since last year, the Packers have drafted six wide receivers.

Even though the Packers have a talented group, it's also an extremely young core. It has benefits, as the room is inexpensive and can grow. However, it's been a steep learning curve, and something challenging to deal with during quarterback Jordan Love's first year as a full-time starter.

So far, though, there haven't been any reports about the Packers exploring the receiver market this season.