Calvin Ridley

Ridley came back from his year-and-a-half absence and proved he can still play, though his lone season with the Jaguars wasn't necessarily a success. He scored eight TDs and had a handful of close-call misses in the end zone, but teammate Christian Kirk was otherwise more productive before suffering a season-ending injury Week 13, and Ridley barely snuck over 1,000 yards in 17 games while finishing with a career-low 55.9 percent catch rate. The Titans, led by new coach Brian Callahan, apparently believe the 2018 first-round pick can get back toward his 1,374-yard peak from 2020 in Atlanta, having signed Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract with 51 percent of the money guaranteed at signing. There were certainly signs of the old Ridley last year, though his volume was disappointing when Kirk was healthy (6.9 targets per game) and his efficiency then plummeted from 8.7 YPT to 5.9 when he got far more volume (10.0 targets) in Kirk's absence the final six games. His comments after signing suggest Ridley expects to move around the formation more often this year, which could be especially helpful given that he's thin (6-1, 190) and managed just 5.9 YPT against press coverage last year. On the other hand, a move to Tennessee means uncertainty at QB with second-year pro Will Levis and major target competition from WRs DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd. It's not clear a 29-year-old Ridley is better than a 32-year-old Hopkins, though the latter's presence should at least free up the former to focus on his strengths and take fewer reps against top cornerbacks using press coverage.

Last seen in October 2021, Ridley has a few things working in his favor as he tries to rebound from some mental health struggles and a year-long gambling suspension. A change of scenery could help, especially when his new home features pass-loving coach Doug Pederson and talented young quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Jags also have target competition in the form of WRs Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and TE Evan Engram, but none has shown anywhere near the type of talent Ridley displayed in 2020 when he put up 1,374 yards and nine TDs in 15 games for the Falcons. An offense that found 202 combined targets last season for Zay Jones and Marvin Jones (now in Detroit) shouldn't have any trouble getting Ridley well into triple digits if he's still the same player from 2020 and early 2021. Of course, that's no guarantee, as results have been mixed with players who have long layoffs from the game, even those in their physical primes (Ridley turns 29 in December).

The NFL suspended Ridley this offseason for the entire 2022 campaign for betting on NFL games during his hiatus from the team last season. The talented wideout opted not to appeal the suspension and will be eligible for reinstatement Feb. 15, 2023.

Heading into 2020, Ridley had more or less lived up to his first-round pedigree, but last season constituted a full breakout. Despite missing a game, Ridley finished tied for fifth in yards, sixth in YPT (9.6), first in 100-yard games (8) and scored nine times. He also led all receivers in aDOT (14.6) and air yards (2,067), i.e., Ridley’s 143 targets were not of the dink-and-dunk variety. Unsurprisingly, he tied Justin Jefferson for the league lead in 20-yard catches with 23. At 6-1, 190, and with 4.43 speed, Ridley is a good athlete, but no physical freak. He relies on quickness, route running, versatility — lining up in the slot or outside — and his rapport with Matt Ryan. And now, with Julio Jones out of the picture, Ridley is one of the favorites to lead the league in targets. He topped 100 yards in five of the seven games Jones missed last year, averaging a whopping 11.3 targets (Davante Adams led the NFL with 10.6 per game). New HC Arthur Smith hopes to have a balanced offense where that type of target volume is far-fetched, but Smith faces an uphill battle in Year 1 with Mike Davis as his projected lead back, and he also built the offense in which Ryan Tannehill tossed 55 TDs against 12 INTs in 26 starts the last two years. The Ryan-to-Ridley connection should stay hot, at least for one more season. Ridley had minor foot surgery in June but is expected to be ready for training camp.

The 26th selection in the 2018 draft, Ridley picked up last season where he left off as a rookie, only with more efficiency, before missing the season's last three games with an abdominal injury. He bumped his YPC and and YPT marks to 13.7 and 9.3, respectively, and scored seven times, despite seeing only seven red-zone targets all year. Ridley didn't make many big plays - only 12 catches of 20-plus yards and none for more than 40 - but he also showed improved focus (only three drops) and put up better numbers after Mohamed Sanu was traded and Austin Hooper got hurt. At 6-1, 190, Ridley has only average size, and his 4.43 40 speed is above average but nothing special for a player of his frame. Ridley's also a good route runner, capable of lining up in the slot or outside. With Hooper now in Cleveland, Ridley is the clear No. 2 option after 31-year Julio Jones, playing in a pass-friendly system with the capable Matt Ryan at quarterback. A healthy Jones limits Ridley's ceiling, but the passing-game tree is narrow, giving him a strong floor.

Taken with the 26th overall pick last year, Ridley had a promising rookie season with 10 scores (T-6th), 8.9 YPT and four catches of 40-plus yards on only 92 targets. Ordinarily, that kind of debut would portend big things in Year 2. But six of Ridley's TDs came in Weeks 2-4 - he had only four scores from Week 5 until the end of the year. Moreover, Ridley's focus was suspect at times as he dropped nine passes, nearly 10 percent of his total looks. Finally, the once red-zone-challenged Julio Jones went on a TD-scoring tear in the second half, and Jones isn't going anywhere as the team's target hog and first look near the goal line. At 6-1, 190, Ridley has average size and good speed (4.43 40). He's a polished route runner and versatile enough to line up outside or in the slot. And while Jones' presence limits his target and production ceiling, there's a nice floor with a stable QB situation, modest contributions from the TE in the passing game and only 30-year-old Mohamed Sanu competing for the non-Jones portion of the wideout opportunities.

Taken with the 26th overall pick, Ridley finds himself in a nearly ideal landing spot. The Falcons have a high-end QB in his prime and a playmaking void opposite an aging Julio Jones at receiver. Mohamed Sanu is a decent possession option, but he's slow and had only one 40-yard catch over the last two years. Enter Ridley, a polished route runner and accomplished college receiver who runs a 4.43 40 and has enough quickness to line up in the slot. At 6-1, 190, Ridley isn't especially stout, and he's already 23, so his ceiling might not be as high as some of the younger players in his class. But he should see targets out of the gate and has a good chance to be the team's No. 2 option before long.