Patriots Named 'Perfect Fit' for Jaguars Free Agent Receiver
As the New England Patriots begin what looks like a rebuild, their director of scouting and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf has made his intentions to "weaponize" the offense clear.
This means quarterback won't be the only major focus in the coming weeks leading to the NFL Draft or even in the days before the start of the "legal tampering period" that will mark the beginning of free agency; the Patriots are looking to stock their once horrific offense with playmakers.
Luckily for Wolf and new coach Jerod Mayo, the timing of this rebuild couldn't be better regarding resources; the Patriots have the No. 3 overall pick in the draft and boast over $100 million in cap space. Given their dire need at receiver and available cap space, Pro Football Focus recently named them as a "perfect" fit for current Jacksonville Jaguars receiver and soon-to-be free agent Calvin Ridley.
Jan 7, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium.
Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
"[Ridley] posted a 1,000-yard season after nearly two years away from the game. He is likely the best all-around wide receiver left on the market after Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. received franchise tags," PFF writes. "Ridley doesn’t offer much after the catch but is still a solid vertical threat. New England needs talent, and Ridley is better than any receiver on the team's roster."
This past season was Ridley's first back on the field since 2021. This was due to a combination of injuries and a violation of the NFL's gambling policy, which saw the now 29-year-old receiver suspended indefinitely. That violation of the league's gambling policy saw him miss all of the 2022 season and even saw him eventually traded by the Falcons to the Jaguars.
So, after basically two years away from the field and a trade that paired him with a young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and a Jaguars team that was coming off a season in which they made the playoffs, there was a lot of intrigue surrounding Ridley's return.
The 29-year-old didn't disappoint. He totaled 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns on 76 receptions while appearing in all 17 games. This now has him potentially set to cash in on the open market, and the Patriots could be one of the teams to pursue his signature.
After a season in which the Patriots offense ranked near the bottom of the league in many statistical categories, plagued by a poor quarterback and offensive line play and bereft of playmakers, adding Ridley certainly would make sense.
