Falcons: An Eagles reporter proposes this Calvin Ridley trade between Atlanta & Philadelphia

We’re approaching the NFL offseason, and rumors are sure to be swirling. Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WHIP proposed this trade on Twitter between the Falcons and Eagles:

#Eagles should use one of their 1st round picks to go get Calvin Ridley https://t.co/5496ZaSXfX

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) January 6, 2022

Shorr-Parks went on to explain his rationale:

Ridley, 27, was the 26th overall pick in 2018 out of Alabama, where he played with current Eagles Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith in 2017. Ridley was a junior, Smith was a freshman, and Hurts was a sophomore, as Alabama went 13-1 beating Georgia in the National Championship game where Ridley caught four balls for 32 yards and a score. Smith caught one ball for a 41-yard touchdown and Hurts had six carries for 47 yards, plus eight passes for 21 yards playing behind current Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa.

Ridley has one year remaining on his contract where he is due $11,116,000 in 2022.

In 49 games with the Falcons, Ridley has been excellent, putting together an elite season in 2020 where he caught 90 of 143 targets for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. Ridley has 28 touchdowns in 49 career games.

The Eagles currently have 10 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, including three first-rounders—one from the Dolphins (currently No. 14), one from the Colts (No. 19-32), and their own (No. 19-32).

I listed the Eagles as one of five potential trade destinations for Calvin Ridley earlier this week. If I’m Terry Fontenot, I make this deal in a heartbeat. I really like Calvin Ridley, and while I won’t speculate on whatever he has going on, there is a possibility that he wants out of Atlanta. If so, recouping a first round pick for a guy with one year left on his deal seems like a no-brainer.

In addition, if Calvin Ridley is traded before the draft (June 1st of 2022), his dead cap hit is zero, via Over The Cap. The Falcons badly need that $11,116,000, and there are a bevy of talented receivers that should be available in round one if they decide to go that route. With Treylon Burks, Jahan Dotson, Garrett Wilson, Drake London, and others potentially on the board when the Falcons pick, they could get an instant replacement in the draft. If they don’t go that route, there should be numerous talented defensive players available.