Calvin Ridley‘s escape from the Jacksonville Jaguars for the Tennessee Titans is without doubt one of the standout strikes of NFL separate company to time.
Why did Ridley secured the Titans, his former AFC South rival?Â
“I think, playing them twice a year, I was watching them and looking at the things they did have. I know that D-Hop’s [DeAndre Hopkins] here — and I know that I wanted to play with another receiver on the other side that could help me do what I do best,” Ridley said in regards to the Titans at his introductory press convention Friday, in line with NFL.com. “I know that they had a really good defense and were upcoming and stuff. I was looking into it.Â
“I truly sought after to be with the Jags, however there’s a bundle of items that wasn’t figuring out for me, and nearest I feel the Titans had that alternative aspect for me, so I selected the Titans. Clearly, the cash used to be lovely excellent, so I went with that.”
Why didn’t Ridley have compatibility in with the Jaguars?
“Jacksonville, they’ve a bundle of guns over there and now and again when I used to be there, I used to be like, feeling a slight bizarre as a result of I used to be all the time any person who desires the ball and I need to break the sport for us,” Ridley said. “I need to be the fellow who’s, you realize — retain me within the sport all sport. So, I used to be like, truly, coming over right here, and I need to do my factor, break in. I would like to deliver this staff, kill this staff throughout the roof in anyway I will be able to to aid.”
Tennessee inked Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal with $50 million guaranteed, a contract that Jacksonville wasn’t willing to match. He now forms one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL with Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro who has totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards in six of his 10 NFL seasons.
Ridley, 29, is coming off a resurgent season, his first full season since 2020 (Ridley stepped aside from the Atlanta Falcons five games into the 2021 season due to a mental health issue and was suspended for the entire 2022 season due to betting on NFL games but was still traded to Jacksonville at the 2022 trade deadline).
Terminating season, Ridley totaled 76 receptions for a team-high 1,016 yards and 8 touchdowns. It marked the second one past that he totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards.
Eddie George opens up on leaving the Titans & joining the Cowboys
So far as touches move, tight finish Evan Engram led Jacksonville with 114 receptions. That said, Engram only received seven more targets than Ridley (143-136). The Jaguars lost five of their last six games, including a Week 18 game at Tennessee to miss the playoffs and finish 9-8.
As for the team Ridley is joining, the Titans are coming off a sluggish 6-11 season. Offensively, they averaged just 180.4 passing yards (29th in the NFL), 108.6 rushing yards (17th), 289.0 total yards (28th) and 17.9 points (tied for 27th) per game.Â
Tennessee is expected to roll with second-year quarterback and 2023 second-round draft pick Will Levis — who began 9 video games and posted an 84.2 passer ranking extreme season — under center in 2023.
Day they misplaced megastar operating again Derrick Henry to the Baltimore Ravens, the Titans have put together a productive free agency on the offensive end, adding Ridley, running back Tony Pollard and middle Lloyd Cushenberry III, future re-signing vast receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Calvin Ridley
Get more from National Football League Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
