Calvin Ridley surprises by signing with Titans on massive four-year contract, per reports

One of the more prominent NFL free agents who lingered in the 2024 market is no longer in stock.

Wide receiver Calvin Ridley, per multiple reports, agreed to a four-year, $92 million dollar deal ($50 million guaranteed) with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday afternoon, jumping ship from the AFC South-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. Ridley had been consistently linked with the Jags and New England Patriots when the league's negotiating window opened Monday, so his move to Nashville came as a bit of a surprise.

The man who had been the top wideout available among this year's free agent crop joins a rebuilding, though cap-flush, squad led by rookie head coach Brian Callahan. Ridley will team with veteran wideout DeAndre Hopkins to give second-year quarterback Will Levis – or newly acquired veteran Mason Rudolph – a solid pair of downfield targets for an offense bound to look much different from the one defined by mauling tailback Derrick Henry the past half-decade. Tennessee ranked 29th in passing offense in 2023.

Ridley, 29, had the second-best season of his career in 2023, posting 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. He sat out the entire 2022 campaign, incurring a suspension from the league for violating its gambling policy after he bet on NFL games, including ones involving the Atlanta Falcons, his former team. The Jags acquired him at the 2022 trade deadline even though he was ineligible to play at the time.

Pairing him with Hopkins and former first-rounder Treylon Burks could net excellent results. Ridley has often been most effective while playing in conjunction with another strong receiver. He was probably at his best while in Atlanta and lining up opposite former All-Pro Julio Jones.

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Ridley's arrival could also help temper the 2022 draft night trade of former Titans wideout A.J. Brown (by ex-GM Jon Robinson) to the Philadelphia Eagles. Brown has blossomed into one of the league's most dangerous playmakers while Burks, whom the Titans took with the 18th pick two years ago, has thus far almost completely failed to fill the void.

How Calvin Ridley's new deal hurts Atlanta Falcons

Had Jacksonville re-signed Ridley before 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, which marked the start of the NFL's new league year, the Jaguars would have owed the Falcons a second-round draft pick (No. 48 overall) as a condition of the deal the teams made more than 16 months ago. However by hitting the open market after the 4 p.m. milestone, the Jags must now surrender a third-round selection (No. 79 overall) to Atlanta instead.

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