Tennessee Titans Reveal Calvin Ridley Signing: Did New England Patriots Fumble Opportunity?

The New England Patriots were the favorite to sign No. 1 receiver Calvin Ridley until the Tennessee Titans swooped in and stole him.

Tennessee Titans newly signed free agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley fields questions during his / Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA

By now - in an offseason that started with a promise from new head coach Jerod Mayo to "burn some cash" - we expected the New England Patriots to have their quarterback of the future, if not also some offensive weapons.

Alas, just three weeks before the NFL Draft, they have neither. The Pats and their No. 3 overall pick still need a franchise quarterback (mediocre journeyman Jacoby Brissett ain't it) and a No. 1 receiver (let's face it, Kendrick Bourne is an ideal No. 2).

The Patriots were seemingly close to signing star receiver Calvin Ridley in free agency, until they weren't. Ridley ultimately signed with the Tennessee Titans for four years, $92 million. Owner Robert Kraft essentially said Ridley became too expensive to sign, but this week the Titans explained their process of landing the receiver and made it clear that New England fumbled its opportunity.

Tennessee Titans newly signed free agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley fields questions during his / Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA

For weeks, the Titans - according to general manager Ran Carthon - didn’t even think they would have a chance at landing him.

“To actually have the opportunity to even consider him was something that we had a part of our plan, but in our mind, really, it was more of a pipe dream. Can we afford these guys and get Ridley?” Carthon said.

Ridley is coming off a productive season with the  Jaguars in which he caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. All of those are No. 1-receiver stats, and would've far led the Pats' pathetic offense in 2023.

The Patriots wanted Ridley but didn't get him. The Titans didn't think they could afford Ridley but somehow wound up with him. The Pats also were "close" to signing DeAndre Hopkins last Summer, but ulimately didn't.

As New England scrambles for both a quarterback and receiver, Ridley sounds more and more like the one that inexplicably got away.