Calvin Ridley Suspended What’s Falcons Cap Space Now?

The Falcons have freed up over $11 million after his suspension.

Jeremy Brener | Mar 7, 2022

With the NFL suspending Atlanta Falcons star Calvin Ridley indefinitely after betting on games in the 2021 season, the team faces an interesting situation leading into free agency when the new league year kicks off March 16.

Calvin Ridley

Before Ridley's suspension was announced, the Falcons were $7 million over the cap. However, with his salary of just over $11.1 million coming off the books for 2022, the team is now in the black, just over $3.8 million under the cap heading into free agency, according to Spotrac.

What the team will do with the cap space remains to be seen, but there is now a massive need for pass-catchers with Ridley set to be sidelined for all of 2022.

Ridley played in five games last season before leaving the organization to work on off-field concerns. According to Falcons' general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith, the fifth-year receiver has stayed away from the facility since his departure in Week 6.

Cordarrelle Patterson and Russell Gage are set to hit the open market, and the Falcons could choose to use this cap relief to retain one or both of the talented skill players, who were two of the top three players in scrimmage yards last season.

Calvin Ridley

The team could also decide to bring in some new blood in free agency with a talented receiver class that includes Mike Williams from the Los Angeles Chargers, Allen Robinson from the Chicago Bears and Atlanta native Michael Gallup from the Dallas Cowboys.

So, if there's any good to come from the Ridley suspension, his absence opens a door filled with opportunities and flexibility for the Falcons moving into 2022 and beyond.

Published Mar 7, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.