Why Bucky Brooks Believes Calvin Ridley Belongs in the Upper Echelon of NFL WRs

The analyst and former NFL pro offered high praise for Jacksonville’s newest wide receiver.

Recency bias is a huge part of position rankings in the NFL and with two years away from the game, some are quick to forget the impact wide receiver Calvin Ridley has when he steps foot on the field.

In Wednesday’s episode of the Move The Sticks podcast, host and NFL analyst Bucky Brooks was quick to remind fans of Ridley’s prowess during their top 10 wide receiver draft segment.

“I think this year we will be reminded how special Calvin Ridley is,” Brooks said. “I’m being a bit of a homer but I had an opportunity last week to go watch him and I am telling you DJ [NFL Analyst Daniel Jeremiah] he is every bit as good as a top-five receiver that we have seen.”

Brooks cited Ridley’s diverse skillset as the main reason why he stands out among his peers.

“Route running ability, hands, playmaking, he has all of that,” Brooks continued. “I think people forget how good he was. Having to replace Julio Jones, when Julio Jones got hurt, then having to anchor that. I know he’s been away for two years but by the end of 2023, we will be talking about Calvin Ridley being one of the premier wide receivers in the league and he has a quarterback in Trevor Lawrence [Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence] that is going to help him go from good to great. Calvin Ridley is a top-five guy.”

The vote of confidence from Brooks is a strong one and dating back to his last full season with the Atlanta Falcons it is easy to see why he feels this way.

In that 2020 season, Ridley amassed 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games played according to Pro Football Reference. With that season the now 28-year-old wideout established himself as a true number-one option and among the rising stars at the wide receiver position.

Being alongside rising star Trevor Lawrence and offensive-minded head coach Doug Pederson in Jacksonville serves as a prime opportunity to build on the progress made three years prior.

If Bucky Brooks’s words of encouragement are any indication, there is a lot to be excited about in the Calvin Ridley revival tour coming to Jacksonville in 2023.