Should Falcons Sign Former First-Round Pick Calvin Ridley in Free Agency?

The Atlanta Falcons cut the Calvin Ridley era short when they traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Could the receiver make his way back to "the A" in free agency?

When the Atlanta Falcons traded suspended receiver Calvin Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars, they did so while baking in the uncertainty of his reinstatement.

If Jacksonville re-signed the receiver – a referendum on his performance – it would owe Atlanta a second-round pick. Instead, he seems destined to hit the open market, meaning the Falcons will be sent a third-round pick.

Receiving any compensation for someone who wasn’t guaranteed to see the field is a win in itself, but Atlanta has a chance to win big this offseason.

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If Ridley does hit free agency, the Falcons will have the opportunity to sign him and receive the draft capital from the trade. Should they attempt to do so?

Atlanta is well-positioned to welcome Ridley back into the fold. Former first-round pick Drake London has the X-receiver spot locked down and tight end Kyle Pitts will see most of his reps in the slot. However, a Z-receiver with inside/outside versatility can fill a huge need for this offense.

Last season, Ridley was a bit inconsistent. When asked to stick to the boundary and run vertical routes, he struggled. He found more success as the season progressed and he was asked to add more to his route tree, moving all over the formation and seeing an uptick in crossing routes. Notably, this coincided with the absence of receiver Christian Kirk, who soaked up those targets.

Ridley will likely continue to be prone to drops, but he’s a true playmaker who adds a threat to every level of the field. Those Los Angeles Rams offenses are at their best with two quality, versatile receivers, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson may covet that in Atlanta, even if it looks a little different.

He finished this past season with 76 catches on 136 targets, finding 1,016 yards and eight scores. Pro Football Focus projects Ridley to see a three-year deal worth $17 million per season. While London waits for his payday and a rookie quarterback (probably) on the way, there’s room for a deal of this kind.

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A Ridley return makes sense for both sides and would only add to the supporting cast a prospective rookie quarterback could use.