Report: Jaguars Offer For Calvin Ridley Was 'Just Shy of $20 Million Per Year'
One of the largest wide receiver free agency contracts of all time was agreed to on Wednesday. And to much surprise, the Jacksonville Jaguars weren't on the other end of it.
The Tennessee Titans paid a hefty price to nab Jaguars' star wide receiver Calvin Ridley, giving the 29-year-old a contract worth $23 million per season.
According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Jaguars' offer came several million per year short.
"I'd heard yesterday the Patriots were at right around $22 million per, and the Jags were just shy of $20 million per," Breer said.
Based on Breer's reporting, it appears the Jaguars made the third-best financial offer to Ridley. Perhaps Ridley would have chosen the Jaguars over the New England Patriots since Florida's lack of income tax would have played a big role, but this was obviously a moot point once the Titans got involved.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Ridley signed a four-year, $92 million deal with $50 million in guarantees. The signing makes Ridley the No. 9 wide receiver in average annual value and the No. 10 wide receiver in overall guaranteed money.
Ridley recorded the second 1,000-yard season in his career in 2023, catching 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. He also made it through the entire season healthy, starting all 17 games after serving a season-long suspension in 2022 and missing most of the 2021 season.
Ultimately, the Jaguars traded a fifth-round and a third-round pick for one season of Ridley. Now, they will march forward with a wide receiver room consisting of Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Zay Jones, Devin Duvernay, Parker Washington, Tim Jones, and Elijah Cooks.
