In perhaps the most out-of-the-blue move this year, the Jaguars traded for suspended Atlanta wideout Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars confirmed.
Calvin Ridley : Trade | Trade to Jaguars | Contract
Calvin Orin Ridley is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL).
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | December 20, 1994 Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Monarch (Coconut Creek, Florida) |
| College: | Alabama (2015–2017) |
| NFL Draft: | 2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26 |
He played college football at Alabama, and was drafted by the Falcons in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Ridley attended and played college football at the University of Alabama under Nick Saban. Ridley earned immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2015.
In his first career game on September 5, 2015, he had three receptions for 22 yards against the University of Wisconsin.
Calvin ridley trade
In perhaps the most out-of-the-blue move this year, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded for suspended Atlanta Falcons wideout Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars confirmed.
The Jaguars sent a package of draft picks that could be worth as high as a 2023 fifth-rounder and a 2024 second-rounder, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Ridley, a Florida native, was suspended for the entire 2022 season after he bet on games in 2021. He is eligible to apply for reinstatement on Feb. 13, 2023.
This move won’t have any effect on this season for the Jaguars, but it could be a major move for Jacksonville if Ridley is reinstated in 2023.
Ridley, 27, was the 26th overall pick by the Falcons in 2018 and tallied 217 receptions for 2,061 yards and 26 touchdowns from 2018-2020.
He was poised for another big year in 2021 before he stepped away from the team due to personal reasons and only played five games.
Earlier this year, the NFL announced Ridley would be indefinitely suspended following an investigation that discovered the receiver bet on games during a five-day period when he was away from the team.
The investigation found no inside information was used or that any game was compromised by Ridley’s actions, either.
Calvin ridley trade to Jaguars
The team on Tuesday traded for suspended Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley, who is sitting out at least the 2022 season for gambling on NFL games.
The earliest Ridley can apply for reinstatement is Feb. 15, 2023.
“We are excited to welcome Calvin Ridley to our organization and the Duval community,” Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “This is an opportunity to add a proven playmaker to our already talented wide receiver room as we continue to build our roster for 2023 and beyond. We are looking forward to finishing strong this season and integrating Calvin into our program at the appropriate time.”
In exchange, the Falcons would receive a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round selection, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The conditional pick could become a third-rounder if Ridley reaches certain incentives in 2023, or it could become a second-rounder if he’s signed to an extension.
In another move at Tuesday’s trade deadline, the Falcons acquired cornerback Rashad Fenton from the Kansas City Chiefs, who got a conditional seventh-round pick in return. Atlanta also sent safety Dean Marlowe to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2023 seven-rounder.
Ridley, the 26th overall pick in 2018, has one more year remaining on his rookie contract. It would be the fifth-year option and he is scheduled to earn $11.12 million next season.
Contract
Ridley is still under his rookie contract. He was drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and the Falcons picked up his fifth-year option.
| Contract: | 4 yr(s) / $10,900,711 |
| Signing Bonus | $6,007,790 |
| Average Salary | $2,725,178 |
| Total Guarantees | $8,454,251 |
| Guaranteed at Signing | $8,454,251 |
| Free Agent: | 2024 / UFA |
Due to his suspension, he carries no cap hit this season, and his option defers to the 2023 season.
Ridley is set to be a free agent ahead of the 2024 NFL season, but a new contract with the Jaguars also helps Atlanta get a better draft pick in the compensation, as stated above.