The Tennessee Titans made waves on Wednesday by agreeing to terms with free-agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley. The deal elicited strong reactions from fans and media members alike.
The free agency strategy the Titans are going with is much more aggressive than it has been in years past. The team added at positions of need with the signings of Tony Pollard, Lloyd Cushenberry, Kenneth Murray, Chidobe Awuzie, and the aforementioned Ridley, among others.
Ridley will immediately come in and fill a huge need for the Titans. In 2023, DeAndre Hopkins led all Titans receivers with 75 catches. No other wideout on the team had even 30 catches on the year.
In 2023 for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ridley came down with 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. The speedster has no problem creating separation, which is a trait the Titans the desperately need on their roster.
As for the financials, Ridley earned a massive deal. The receiver is signing a four-year, $92 million deal that includes $50 million guaranteed.
Ridley’s contract is tied for the 10th among wide receivers in both guaranteed money and annual average and, after top wide receivers like Justin Jefferson, Ceedee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase sign extensions, Ridley’s deal will rank even lower.
The Titans needed more speed and more explosiveness, and Ridley provides both. It’s also worth mentioning that Ridley only played in five games in 2021 and missed the entire 2022 season, so his age of 29 is a little deceptive.
Ridley should have plenty of gas in the tank and immediately upgrades one of the team’s weakest areas. The Titans paid a premium, but they did what they had to do to get more weapons.
Grade: A
