The Jaguars want WR Calvin Ridley back, but is it possible?
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Since the 2023 season ended, Jacksonville Jaguars GM Trent Baalke and coach Doug Pederson have been unwavering: They want to bring wide receiver Calvin Ridley back — if possible.
Ridley, whom the Jaguars acquired in 2022 from the Atlanta Falcons, led the team with 1,016 yards and eight receiving touchdowns in 2023.
“He was a great addition to our offense,” Pederson said. “Obviously would love to get him back if possible. He adds an element of speed down the field that we need.”
But the Jaguars need to create cap space if they’re going to sign Ridley, along with outside linebacker Josh Allen and a few other players, in free agency and still have room for their rookie class.
The NFL announced last week that the salary cap for 2024 would jump to $255.4 million, which gives the Jaguars an additional $13 million more than originally projected. They now have $23.5 million in salary cap space for 2024, per Roster Management System.
“I don’t think it really changes anything,” Baalke said about the salary cap during his news conference at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday. “Obviously it affects everybody the same way. So it’s not like it creates an advantage or a disadvantage for us.”
Complicating things a bit for the Jaguars, however, is Allen’s situation. If the Jaguars are unable to work out an extension with Allen and have to use the franchise tag, he would have a fully guaranteed salary of $24 million in 2024, and it would all count against the cap. If they reach a deal on an extension, though, that could allow them to structure the contract in a way that would lessen the cap hit this season and give them more room to sign Ridley.
Ridley’s situation is also tricky, and timing could be important in the decision. Per the terms of their trade with Atlanta to bring Ridley to Jacksonville, if the Jaguars sign Ridley to an extension, they have to send a second-round pick to the Falcons. If they don’t sign him to an extension, they send the Falcons a third-round pick instead.
