How the Titans’ decision to keep Calvin Ridley changes their wide receiver plans in a critical 2026 NFL Draft

Calvin Ridley is staying a with the Titans after all. Now what?

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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Nov 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) warms up before the game between the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Calvin Ridley’s tenure as a Tennessee Titan hasn’t exactly gone to plan.

Former GM Ran Carthon surprised everybody when he signed Ridley to a 4yr/$92 million contract two springs ago. He was brought in to be Will Levis’ WR1, before becoming Cam Ward’s WR1 in 2025. He’s played in just 20 of 34 possible games since joining Tennessee. He’s dealt with injuries and inconsistency, made all the more frustrating by moments that remind us of what he’s capable of.

It was a big question heading into this offseason whether GM Mike Borgonzi would opt to keep him around. This weekend, that decision was made. A restructure of his contract is keeping him with Cam Ward for a second season. But what does his return mean for the Titans’ draft plans, and what are reasonable expectations for Ridley now?

Calvin Ridley’s 2026 expectations inform NFL Draft plans

Ridley is heading into his age 32 season, and he’s coming off of a broken leg that ended his season last fall. But it was the injury he suffered first and then returned from in 2025 that’s more concerning to me.

He left the Raiders game early with a hamstring, which is an unnerving announcement to hear for any speed receiver on the wrong side of 30. History tells us that once hamstrings start bothering these guys, they don’t stop. Ridley took a handful of weeks off before returning in the Week 10 game against Houston, where he broke his leg on the first play of the game. It was a catch, it was a first down, and it was the last contribution he made to that campaign.

Before these injuries, Ridley dealt with weekly inconsistency and slow starts in both seasons. He’s athletic enough to get his hands on more footballs than most, and a handful of his drops weren’t easy receptions. But receivers getting paid like he was are frankly expected to come down with at least some of those, and he didn’t secure enough of them. The version of Ridley we saw at the tail end of 2024 was the best version, but it was a fleeting one.

What can be reasonably expected of a player with this recent history?

Ridley was brought in to be a WR1, but Mike Borgonzi isn’t bringing him back to be one now. What they have accomplished by retaining him is setting a solid floor in a tricky spot. The clear (and common) theme of this free agency cycle for Borgonzi was setting floors and putting out fires. Tennessee was in dire need of help at EDGE, WR, CB, and C. They traded for Jermaine Johnson to establish a floor at EDGE. They signed John Franklin-Myers to fill the gap on the DL left behind by a traded T’Vondre Sweat. They signed a pair of cornerbacks in Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott. And they’ve secured WR Wan’Dale Robinson in the slot, with Ridley on the boundary. The only fire they have left to put out is at center.

None of these moves should prevent the Titans from drafting highly at these positions. But they do keep them from feeling pigeon-holed into forcing them. It provides flexibility heading into a deeply important draft, which the Titans need in order to maximize a “best player available” approach.

But at receiver in particular, Ridley and Robinson cannot discourage an early selection at receiver. If you ask me, teams should take a receiver in the first four rounds every single draft. The Titans likely need to spend a Day 2 pick on one this year, regardless of the veteran composition of the room. It seems unlikely they seriously consider Ohio State WR Carnell Tate at 4 overall, but I wouldn’t rule it out yet depending on how the board falls.

The 35th and 66th picks are expected to be ripe with receiver options. Those options aren’t likely to be WR1 material, and certainly not right away. But again, that cannot discourage a rookie selection. Draft and develop targets for Ward! Young players who will be here after Ridley and potentially Robinson are gone. But do so with a cool head, knowing those veterans keep you from any rash decision making.

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