Missing out on Ridley is a sad start to free agency for the Patriots
Missing out on Ridley is a sad start to free agency for the Patriots Originally featured on NBC Sports. Boston
The Patriots had a need. A conspicuous one. They had the funds to get the clear-cut best choice available in free agency to address that requirement. They were fascinated in him. And he ends up somewhere else.
If you’re a Patriots fan, this has to be frustrating.
According to various sources, former Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley has signed a huge contract with the Titans. According to NFL Media, Ridley will sign a four-year contract for $92 million, with $50 million completely guaranteed.
The frustrating part, if you’re a Patriot? According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Patriots had an offer on the table for Ridley for “around $22 million” per year, and his new contract will be around $23 million per year on average.
In attendance were Eliot Wolf, Jerod Mayo, and members of the Patriots’ front office. However, they are witnessing one of the free agents they coveted, who is known for his flexibility, route-running skills, and explosiveness, go elsewhere.
The contract for Ridley is quite substantial — Pro Football Focus estimated his worth at roughly $16 million per year — but it is hardly a record-breaking agreement.
According to Over The Cap, the deal’s average yearly value will rank ninth among NFL receivers, barely ahead of tagged wideouts Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman ($21.8 million) and below Washington’s Terry McLaurin ($23.2 million). For a wideout like Ridley, 29, who might be considered to be a top-25 player at his position (he finished 27th in yards last year), a free-agent deal is not uncommon to rank much above of where he could sit at his position.
That’s what happened to Ridley. And the Patriots came close to winning. Simply not close enough.
That’s what happened to Ridley. And the Patriots came close to winning. Simply not close enough.
What may make Ridley’s decision to join with Tennessee over New England more difficult for the team’s leadership to digest is that the Titans are in a similar situation to the Patriots in terms of their overall trajectory. Tennessee was 6-11 last season and presently has quarterback problems, with Will Levis serving as the primary option for the time being.
Perhaps Ridley just preferred to be further south than Foxboro, Massachusetts, for the next stage of his career. Perhaps certain aspects of his new contract — financial flows, bonuses, etc. — differ significantly from what the Patriots gave him.
But it’s not like he moved to a contender with a star passer who will help him in the stretch run of his career.
As things stand in the immediate wake of the deal’s reporting, the Patriots appear to have lost out by a few million. They wasted an opportunity to improve their receiver room after years of using a subpar unit. They missed an opportunity to make things simpler for their young quarterback if they pick one at No. 3 overall. Missed an opportunity to offer their fans something to be excited about, which after a few tough-to-watch seasons, would have some big-picture value and may take some weight off the incoming head coach.
Perhaps they will sign Mike Williams to play on the boundary and win 50-50 balls in a way that the recently retired DeVante Parker could not. Maybe they’ll add Marquise “Hollywood” Brown as a speed option with some experience to help keep safeties honest. Perhaps they strike gold at No. 34 overall in the second round, landing their future No. 1 receiver.
There are choices. There is still optimism in the receiving room at One Patriot Place.
However, after missing out on the clear top free-agent pick, it remains a very disappointing one.
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