Falcons Trade Calvin Ridley to Jaguars; Right Move For Atlanta?

It wasn’t supposed to finish this fashion.

When receiver Calvin Ridley was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons within the first spherical of the 2018 NFL Draft, he appeared poised to develop into the franchise’s subsequent nice wideout, following within the steps of Roddy White and Julio Jones.

After incomes All-Professional honors in 2020 throughout a breakout 90-reception, close to 1,400-yard season, Ridley had firmly established himself as one of many league’s premiere wideouts.

Then, all of it flipped.

The Falcons employed coach Arthur Smith and common supervisor Terry Fontenot to headline a brand new period for the group. Just a few months later, Jones was traded to the Tennessee Titans, thrusting Ridley into the clear-cut No. 1 receiver position.

The previous Alabama Crimson Tide star appeared prepared for it; he was seen as a high-end route runner, had a confirmed rapport with quarterback Matt Ryan and was coming off his third skilled season through which he ranked ninth in franchise historical past in receiving yards – behind solely Jones and White.

And but, issues simply did not work out below Smith; Ridley’s high-finesse playstyle wasn’t actually a match for the brand new offense, which is centered round physicality and in-breaking routes. In 5 video games below Smith, Ridley noticed 52 targets however hauled in simply 31 of them, totaling 281 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Then, it spiraled uncontrolled.

Ridley did not journey with the workforce when Atlanta performed the New York Jets in London, citing psychological well being causes. He returned the next sport, catching 4 passes for 26 yards and a rating in a Falcons victory.

The sport proved to be Ridley’s final for the season and, finally tenure in Atlanta.

Smith and Fontenot didn’t reveal a lot info surrounding Ridley’s standing, merely leaving it as a psychological well being matter. Atlanta reportedly had commerce discussions involving Ridley this previous offseason, however these halted when he was suspended for the whole lot of the 2022 season as a result of playing. Some speculated that Ridley may return after his suspension ended, however it by no means appeared real looking.

In lower than a calendar yr, Ridley went from blossoming younger star, reigning All-Professional and potential franchise staple to suspended and on his method out.

All of that led to Tuesday, when the Falcons traded Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2023 fifth-round and conditional 2024 fourth-round decide that turns into a 3rd if Ridley meets sure incentives and a second if Jacksonville indicators him to a contract extension.

Ridley, 27, has one season left on his contract, and if he is in a position to return to his prior stage of play, will virtually definitely obtain a hefty payday.

Finally, it was all the time going to be troublesome for Ridley and the Falcons to reunite. Contract apart, the match wasn’t there, and it merely made little sense for both occasion to proceed transferring ahead.

In Jacksonville, Ridley will get a contemporary begin with a brand new offensive workers and younger quarterback. Initially from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Ridley will likely be returning to the Sunshine State with an opportunity to reinvent himself and get again to what he as soon as was.

As for the Falcons, the haul is kind of lower than the rumored first-round decide up for grabs earlier than Ridley’s suspension, however there is a honest probability that the 2024 decide turns into a top-100 choice and Fontenot has put fifth-round picks to good use throughout his tenure.

Via two drafts, Atlanta has made 4 alternatives within the fifth spherical: defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham, exterior linebacker Ade Ogundeji, return specialist Avery Williams and working again Tyler Allgeier.

Graham has began each sport this season and is a budding affect participant on the within of the Falcons’ line of defense, alongside Grady Jarrett. Ogundeji has began all seven video games he is appeared in and has developed into a top quality run defender that holds a key position in Atlanta’s rotation.

Williams handles each kick and punt return duties and has sprung a number of huge runs of late. He is additionally extremely versatile, dealing with a number of roles on particular groups whereas taking part in working again, receiver and cornerback, giving the Falcons vital roster flexibility.

Allgeier has began every of the final 4 video games instead of the injured Cordarrelle Patterson and continues to develop increasingly more assured. As such, his play is trending up, as proven by his 25-yard receiving landing in opposition to the Carolina Panthers.

So, may the Falcons have gotten a greater, extra worthwhile return for Ridley had the final 13 months’ value of occasions not occurred? Actually.

Nevertheless, Fontenot has confirmed he can add affect gamers within the center rounds, and there is a strong probability the Falcons nonetheless get a decide within the top-100 in 2024, nonetheless.

However maybe most significantly is that Atlanta has second-year Professional Bowl tight finish Kyle Pitts and rookie first-round decide Drake London, each greater than proving they’re able to carrying the workforce’s passing assault.

Ultimately, the Falcons wanted somebody to rise to the problem of turning into the following nice No. 1 receiver, and as a result of a wide range of elements, Ridley merely could not take a strangle maintain on the position.

Now all of the wiser, Ridley will get a second probability to do precisely that in Jacksonville, whereas the Falcons construct on the younger cross catchers introduced in by the brand new regime.

Because it grew to become abundantly clear that Ridley and Atlanta merely could not proceed, this particular commerce appeared like a matter of when, not if – however it would not alter the truth that Ridley’s promise-filled tenure got here to an uninspiring finish that each the workforce and participant could not have foreseen simply 15 months in the past.

You’ll be able to comply with Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

Get your HOTlanta Falcons sport tickets from SI Tickets … right here!

Need the most recent in breaking information and insider info on the Falcons? Click on Right here.

Observe Falcon Report on Twitter.