The Reality the Jaguars Must Face When It Comes to Calvin Ridley
There isn't a bigger question and puzzle facing the Jacksonville Jaguars' front office this offseason than wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
In fact, Ridley might be the most layered and complex offseason question the Jaguars have faced in some time.
The parameters around Ridley and his situation are clear. If the Jaguars re-sign Ridley before the new league year begins at 4 p.m. on March 13, then their second-round pick will be sent to the Atlanta Falcons.
If the Jaguars wait until free agency begins to retain Ridley, then the only pick they owe the Falcons is their third-round selection.
Sounds simple, right? It is anything but.
The Jaguars have expressed a public desire to retain Ridley, with general manager Trent Baalke signing Ridley's praises last month.
"Calvin did some awfully good things. I love Calvin Ridley. He’s all ball. You guys and gals that were able to see it at practice, he loves to practice, he loves to play, he loves the game," Baalke said.
"When you bring somebody in that hasn’t been a part of football for over a year and a half, you’ve got to knock the rust off. He did that and at times, he showed exactly who he was, who he can be. The sky is 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. We would love to have Calvin back and we’re going to work toward that. What that means, I don’t know right now.”
It wasn't just Baalke, either. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has similarly said he would like to see Ridley return. Ridley himself said after the season why returning would be appealing to him, too.
“Of course. I learned these guys, built relationships with them. I don’t really care to learn other people and plays and all the other stuff right now," Ridley said last month when asked if he would like to be a Jaguar in 2024.
"God is going to find out where I belong and if the money is right, I do need some of that, we’ll figure it out. I’m going to hit this offseason for me personally to get better. I’m coming back and I’m happy about my play.”
But it isn't as simple as simply "want to". Of course the Jaguars want Ridley back. But it isn't that simple.
The Jaguars aren't in a position to lose a top-50 pick, especially when you are both losing a pick and handing out a significant contract at the same time. That is just bad business.
So it only really makes sense for the Jaguars to attempt to sign Ridley once free agency begins. Since he is still their free agent, they can negotiate with him during this pre-free agency window. They can get the framework of a deal done and ensure their offer once free agency begins isn't one that Ridley is surprised by.
But if you are Ridley, how much sense does it make to only hear one offer? If you are a free agent, wouldn't it make more sense to hear what other teams are saying and how their offers compare to Jacksonville's?
The simple fact of the matter is that Ridley is likely going to be the top available free agent wide receiver for a number of teams this offseason. Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. will likely be franchise-tagged, leaving Ridley and Mike Evans as the top free agents at the position. And considering how different the two are, it only makes sense for some teams to be looking for a wideout with Ridley's traits more than one with Evans'.
So while there is plenty of desire for all sides for Ridley to return, the reality of the situation is that there is risk involved. The Jaguars will be taking a leap if they put this plan into motion to keep Ridley. And that leap better be a calculated one.
