Will the Jaguars extend Calvin Ridley, why it matters for Falcons

NFL: OCT 15 Colts at Jaguars

Before the start of the season, everyone was expecting a monster year from Calvin Ridley after serving a year-long suspension for gambling on NFL games. He looked to be moving at a different speed in training camp, and with Trevor Lawrence now throwing him passes, nobody would have been shocked if he entered the All-Pro conversation again.

For whatever reason, things didn’t necessarily click in his first season with the Jaguars as most expected. Perhaps it was rust on his end, or maybe people are simply overvaluing the play of Trevor Lawrence early in his career. Ridley still managed to haul in 76 receptions for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns, including four 100-yard games. But with the highs came a bunch of lows, and according to Charlie Campbell of Walter Football, the Jaguars were frustrated with Ridley’s attention to detail.

“The Jaguars were disappointed and frustrated with the play of Calvin Ridley last year. Ridley was under-weight, did not supply the yards after the catch, and had a plethora of missed assignments,” Campbell writes. “Those sources said the Jaguars want a big outside receiver for Trevor Lawrence and that the position is a round priority on Day 1 or Day 2.”

Whether the Jaguars re-sign Ridley or not, they need to keep adding more weapons around Trevor Lawrence. The question they’ll have to answer about Ridley is whether he is capable of being a true #1 receiver. If Campbell’s sources are accurate, I don’t think they are going to want to pay him the money he may potentially garner in free agency.

However, Jaguars GM Trent Baalke sang a different tune earlier this week when talking about retaining Calvin Ridley.

“Calvin did some awfully good things,” Baalke said, via AL.com. “I love Calvin Ridley. He’s all ball. You guys and gals who were able to see us practice, he loves to practice, he loves to play, he loves the game. When you bring somebody in that hasn’t been a part of football for over a year and a half, you got to knock the rust off, and he did that, and, at times, he showed exactly who he was, who he can be.

“And the sky’s the limit. He’s only going to get better because of the way he works. When you love something as much as he loves football, you can’t help but get better. So we would love to have Calvin back. We’re going to work toward that. What that means is I don’t know right now.”
Ridley just turned 29-years-old and caught 1,000 yards after missing a year-and-a-half of football. He’ll have no shortage of suitors, but Falcons fans should pray he works something out with the Jaguars. The 2024 pick they received in the trade for Ridley is currently slotted to be in the third round. If there’s an extension, it will be in the second.

Photographer: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

 

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