would not blink if veteran wide receiver Josh Reynolds is re-signed by the Detroit Lions. However, there’s also a chance to sign a possible upgrade, like prospective free agent Calvin Ridley.
On February 21, Garrett Podell of CBS Sports identified the Lions as one of Ridley’s three possible landing destinations.
“In his first season back following a gambling suspension that erased his 2022 campaign, Calvin Ridley had a straightforward season on the field in 2023,” Podell writes. After making a strong comeback to NFL action, he led Jacksonville in receiving yards (1,016) and receiving touchdowns (eight).
Promoting
After making it to the NFC championship game, the Detroit Lions have the salary capacity to make Ridley a competitive offer and lure him in with the prospect of playing for a legitimate contender.
This summer, Spotrac estimated Ridley’s value at roughly $68 million on a four-year contract. He would receive $17 million a season on average from that.
The Lions have cap space of $48 million.
Ridley had a fantastic comeback season in 2023, as Podell pointed out. But a provision in the deal that brought Ridley from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Atlanta Falcons might make it impossible for the receive to go back to Jacksonville.receiverreceiverThe conditional third-round pick the Jaguars owe the Atlanta Falcons increases to a second-round pick if Ridley re-signs, according to Podell. “It’s obvious that Jacksonville could use him in addition to Christian Kirk and Evan Engram, but with that price tag, another team could easily pick him up.”
It’s noteworthy to link Ridley to the Lions for two reasons.
First, Ridley might add even more dynamism to the Lions’ passing attack, which is ranked second. However, the Lions are all too familiar with his contentious gambling history.f
29 of his team’s past 51 games. But Ridley has produced whenever he’s been on the field throughout his career.
He began in the NFL as a first-round pick for the Falcons in 2018. As a rookie playing opposite All-Pro receiver
64 catches for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Ridley has played more than 12 games in four NFL seasons. He’s recorded at least 60 receptions, 800 yards and 7 touchdowns in all four of those campaigns.
His best statistical season came in 2020 when he had 90 catches for 1,374 yards and 9 touchdowns. in a column on The Players’ Tribune that he reached those 2020 totals while playing with a broken foot.
