Bears’ #1 Prospect for the Estimated $68 Million All-Pro Wide Receiverbear……….
Josh Allen is a top pass rusher for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and they almost certainly will use their franchise tag on him. This might eventually result in the Chicago Bears obtaining a reliable WR2 option.
After spending just one season with the Jaguars, veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley is eligible to sign free agency. The 29-year-old Ridley recently completed his second 1,000-yard campaign, hauling in 76 catches for 1,016 yards (13.4 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns.
Pro Football Focus’s Brad Spielberger stated that the Bears were Ridley’s #1 choice in free agency and that the wide receiver would be a fantastic fit for DJ Moore.
Spielberger stated on January 31: “With D.J. Moore in place, Chicago could get two players who are interchangeable as good move/Z-receivers with alignment versatility and as X-receivers up on the line.” “Both have the ability to create separation vertically, but Moore could use his excellent after-the-catch skills at the short and intermediate levels if Ridley could take the top off defences even more.”
In 2018, the Atlanta Falcons selected Ridley out of Alabama in the first round (at pick No. 26 overall), and throughout his first three seasons, he was a touchdown machine. In his first 44 games, he hauled in 26 touchdowns.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Ridley had his greatest year in 2020, earning a spot on the second team of the All-Pro team. At the end, he had nine touchdowns and 90 receptions for 1,374 yards (15.3 yards per catch).
He played in just five games in 2021 due to a foot issue that necessitated surgery, and he lost more time for an unrelated reason after the season.
Ridley was suspended for placing bets on NFL games during the 2021 season, and he did not play in any games in 2022. Subsequently, the Falcons dealt him to Jacksonville in exchange for a fifth-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2024. The latter became a third-round pick when Ridley met specific performance targets in the 2023 campaign (more on this third-round selection below).
Ridley experienced some decreases in 2023 (seven, according to PFF), but that might have been a result of his rust wearing off as he became reaccustomed to the game. Thus, the Bears shouldn’t pay him too much.
According to Spotrac, Ridley is expected to sign an offseason deal worth over $68.2 million, or an average of $17 million a season. Spielberger’s estimate is not too dissimilar from that. He gets Ridley to sign a $32.5 million, two-year contract ($16.25 million year, $21.5 million guaranteed).
Spielberger also points out that Jacksonville would need to send the Falcons a second-round pick if the Jags decide to extend Ridley before the 2024 NFL season year starts. In the event that an extension is not signed, the pick stays in the Round 3.
For his part, Ridley has said he wants to stay in Jacksonville, but he acknowledges that his next move will be influenced by money.
“I developed relationships with these guys and learned from them.” Right now, I’m not really interested in learning about other people, plays, or anything else. After the season, according to the Florida Times-Union, Ridley stated, “God is going to find out where I belong and if the money is right, I do need some of that, we’ll figure it out.” “I’m going to use this offseason to improve personally.”
Since Ridley’s free agency is almost a given, the Bears should be able to pursue him. See if they do, we’ll see.
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