Overpay for Ridley but don’t exceed 3 years. Give me 3 years and $54 million. This year you have the space, next year you can clear off some flotsam like JuJu if needed for cap space, and by year 3 he becomes cuttable if he isn’t working out.
Bosa will play the upcoming season as a 29 year old. He's got injury issues. He's missed a lot of games.Bosa is 28 (I think) and clearly is a very good player.
I agree with the Idiot.Overpay for Ridley but don’t exceed 3 years. Give me 3 years and $54 million. This year you have the space, next year you can clear off some flotsam like JuJu if needed for cap space, and by year 3 he becomes cuttable if he isn’t working out.
You could just go get Marquise Brown cheaper or Boyd likely cheaper and shorter term. My concern with Ridley is... this is his age 30 season, you're giving him at least 3 years. Based on how WRs generally age, you would expect him to be worse, maybe significantly worse each year of that deal.I’m on team overpay for Ridley. If you don’t, you’re essentially bringing back the same offense and relying on a rookie QB (plus a day 2 tackle or WR) to fix it.
There are no other realistic options out there. Aiyuk or Higgins ain’t walking through that door. Even if #34 alone were enough to get it done, then what’s the tackle situation going to look like?
For WR... probably not? Age for WRs is more about lost explosiveness (which seemed to be an issue for him last year where he didn't get off the line as well against press/man) than the RB style just beat to death.Is his age mitigated somehat by the suspension? He's 30 but essentially had a year off from the wear and tear of an NFL season due to the suspension. Obviously athletes decline naturally due to age and what not but I'm curious if there's any benefit to him missing a season.
Ridley was a 21 year old Freshman at Alabama (I'm sure there is a story here I don't know the details about). No wonder it always sounds odd to me when people say he's going to be in his age 30 season. It's more than just the 1 year suspension, he started in the NFL at age 24 and has had a pretty atypical development path.For WR... probably not? Age for WRs is more about lost explosiveness (which seemed to be an issue for him last year where he didn't get off the line as well against press/man) than the RB style just beat to death.
Well, this wouldn’t prevent a planned signing with the Jags from being reported today, right?@RealAlexBarth
Something to keep in mind with Calvin Ridley: If the Jaguars sign him to an *extension* they owe the Falcons a 2nd round pick as part of that trade agreement. If they wait for the new league year and sign him as a "free agent" that pick becomes a 3rd.
I can’t access the Fowler article (ESPN paywall) he references in a follow-on tweet, but, if true, what a strange compensation escalator condition.@RealAlexBarth
Something to keep in mind with Calvin Ridley: If the Jaguars sign him to an *extension* they owe the Falcons a 2nd round pick as part of that trade agreement. If they wait for the new league year and sign him as a "free agent" that pick becomes a 3rd.
Well, not really, the Jags could sign Ridley to an extension today because his contract hasn’t expired. The contract would expire tomorrow, which is when the 2023 league year technically ends.Well, this wouldn’t prevent a planned signing with the Jags from being reported today, right?
None of the free agents that have “signed” with new teams over the last ~24 hours are official until tomorrow either.
This reads to me like we’re Plan B. Feels like he’ll be a Jag but we’ll see.
And, tying to my above post...heres the Patriots reply through the media.
They could extend Cam Robinson or Oluokun (or restructure Olokun), either would clear $10M+, they could cut Zay Jones and save $7M, could re-structure Kirk and save 8-12M.Ridleys going to be a Patriot. How can anyone read any of these posts and not just see agent spin?
"Down to Pats and Jags...and a mystery third team!! Better up those offers!!"
"Down to Pats and Jags...he really wants to go back to Jacksonville. Better up that offer, Patriots!!"
Where is the money going to come from to sign Ridley?
View attachment 79329
Josh Allen has them by the balls, as they're going to have to readjust his franchise tag number into a long term contract just to get them enough money for the draft and operating money for the upcoming year. They could cut Cam Robinson, but then they literally have NO replacement that can function at LT.
And none of that touches on the fact that they just signed Gabe Davis to a contract, and he fills a similar deep threat role that Ridley filled.
Ridleys a Patriot, and all of this noise is to squeeze a better contract out of them. I hope the Patriots dont budge and they get him on a good contract.
They will cut Zay Jones saving 7.7M against the cap. FL doesn't have income tax so NE's offer needs to be quite a bit higher to account for income and millionaire tax. FL will also likely sign Allen to a LTC reducing his cap hit for this season significantly. They have plenty of levers to accommodate signing Ridley.Ridleys going to be a Patriot. How can anyone read any of these posts and not just see agent spin?
"Down to Pats and Jags...and a mystery third team!! Better up those offers!!"
"Down to Pats and Jags...he really wants to go back to Jacksonville. Better up that offer, Patriots!!"
Where is the money going to come from to sign Ridley?
View attachment 79329
Josh Allen has them by the balls, as they're going to have to readjust his franchise tag number into a long term contract just to get them enough money for the draft and operating money for the upcoming year. They could cut Cam Robinson and save $12M, but then they literally have NO replacement that can function at LT. Their line is horrid as it is, do they really want to lose one of the 2 functioning linemen on their roster?
And none of that touches on the fact that they just signed Gabe Davis to a contract, and he fills a similar deep threat role that Ridley filled.
Ridleys a Patriot, and all of this noise is to squeeze a better contract out of them. I hope the Patriots dont budge and they get him on a good contract.
Edit: Gabe Davis signed for $6M a year, more than half of what a lot of people were expecting. People aren't in love with the WR in free agency, especially with a deep draft. I wouldn't be shocked to see Ridleys contract come in around $10M a season.
yeah the more I look at it the more it seems likely their plan is... sign Ridley, cut Jones, 1 for 1 cap hit swap.They will cut Zay Jones saving 7.7M against the cap. FL doesn't have income tax so NE's offer needs to be quite a bit higher to account for income and millionaire tax. FL will also likely sign Allen to a LTC reducing his cap hit for this season significantly. They have plenty of levers to accommodate signing Ridley.
Im seeing a $6.5M dead cap hit if they cut him...guess I should check if theyve already designated 2 post june cuts.They will cut Zay Jones saving 7.7M against the cap. FL doesn't have income tax so NE's offer needs to be quite a bit higher to account for income and millionaire tax. FL will also likely sign Allen to a LTC reducing his cap hit for this season significantly. They have plenty of levers to accommodate signing Ridley.
feels very much like shopping our offer to the Jags because he doesn’t really want to go to NE.
That leak is Wolf trying to pressure Ridley to sign, but Ridley would rather go to JAX, and they are asking him to wait until 4:01 tomorrow so they can be sure they won't owe a 2nd.feels very much like shopping our offer to the Jags because he doesn’t really want to go to NE.
maybe they don’t match or he is just trying to maximize his contract with the Jags
This feels right to me. I think Ridley stays a Jaguar.That leak is Wolf trying to pressure Ridley to sign, but Ridley would rather go to JAX, and they are asking him to wait until 4:01 tomorrow so they can be sure they won't owe a 2nd.
Ridley went to college in Bama and played his NFL career in ATL then Jax. I think NE would be quite the shock to his system. Best he stay in the warm south.Any time I hear that someone wants to go to Jacksonville, I immediately assume that they've never been there before.
Yeah I get it. I still think that I'd rather live in Svalbard.Ridley went to college in Bama and played his NFL career in ATL then Jax. I think NE would be quite the shock to his system. Best he stay in the warm south.
I think he always wanted to be back, they always wanted him back, they told him they would either match or get close enough that taxes covered the gap to an offer he got, and in return he waits so they owe a 3rd not a 2nd.If he does go back to the Jags, wonder if Gabe Davis and Ridley was the Jags hope all along... or they were surprised Ridley's market was just not very robust.
Kind of assumed the Davis signing was because they expected Ridley to leave.
They could extend Cam Robinson or Oluokun (or restructure Olokun), either would clear $10M+, they could cut Zay Jones and save $7M, could re-structure Kirk and save 8-12M.
They don't need to clear very much money anyway, 6-10M tops.
They will cut Zay Jones saving 7.7M against the cap. FL doesn't have income tax so NE's offer needs to be quite a bit higher to account for income and millionaire tax. FL will also likely sign Allen to a LTC reducing his cap hit for this season significantly. They have plenty of levers to accommodate signing Ridley.
The good news is that we'll soon be able to tell whos right, but I think you guys are nuts.yeah the more I look at it the more it seems likely their plan is... sign Ridley, cut Jones, 1 for 1 cap hit swap.
So the Davis signing was meant to be as an add on to Ridley, not as a replacement?I think he always wanted to be back, they always wanted him back, they told him they would either match or get close enough that taxes covered the gap to an offer he got, and in return he waits so they owe a 3rd not a 2nd.
you’re assuming a lot of competency from an organization that hasn’t earned itThe good news is that we'll soon be able to tell whos right, but I think you guys are nuts.
Ridley was one of the best deep threats in the league last year. 25% of his routes were deep routes, 8th most.
32% of Davis' routes were deep routes. Second in the league.
So we think the Jaguars offensive game plan will be to line up two of the most efficient deep threats...and then have Lawrence throw behind the same line that allowed the 2nd shortest time to throw in the league?
All while losing their top corner, Darious Williams, to free agency and having their second best corner, Tre Herndon, still unsigned?
Sure. I guess thats one way for a team to build a roster.
They have a quarterback, warm weather, and no state income tax. Why would he want to come here and freeze to play with a rookie coach & QB unless the money was over the top?Any time I hear that someone wants to go to Jacksonville, I immediately assume that they've never been there before.
I'm not arguing for him coming here. I get that.They have a quarterback, warm weather, and no state income tax. Why would he want to come here and freeze to play with a rookie coach & QB unless the money was over the top?
My guess is the idea was to upgrade Zay Jones who they'll probably cut once Ridley is agreed.So the Davis signing was meant to be as an add on to Ridley, not as a replacement?
I didn't think that when I first saw it, but I guess maybe that's been the hope/plan all along from Jax.
They upgraded interior O-line and safety, they'll cut Jones to pay Ridley, still do one or more of the extend/re-structures, and work out a LTC with Allen to sign a CB (plenty still out there), and with 17 and 48 they'll be well positioned to add impact defensive players or an OT.The good news is that we'll soon be able to tell whos right, but I think you guys are nuts.
25% of Ridleys routes were deep routes, 8th most in the NFL. 32% of Davis' routes were deep routes. Second in the NFL.
So we think the Jaguars offensive game plan will be to line up two of the most efficient deep threats in the NFL...and then have Lawrence throw behind the same line that allowed the 2nd shortest time to throw in the league?
All while losing their top corner, Darious Williams, to free agency and having their second best corner, Tre Herndon, still unsigned?
Sure. I guess thats one way for a team to build a roster.
Most of this is moot at this point, but frankly, I don't see any landing spots in that group outside of potentially Carolina or Arizona.Maybe we're smarter than we realized.
Or as dumb as we thought?
I dunno. That tweet doesn't really feel like a "bidding war" type of tweet.
For 2 days, we've heard the Jaguars and Pats are the two teams looking for his services. The Jaguars are against the cap and just signed Gabe Davis, giving them a - Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Zay Jones trio. A lot of Ridleys success came on the deep ball, so adding Gabe Davis to the receiving room makes Ridleys skillset fairly redunant. My guess is that the Jaguars are saying theyre interested in bringing him back to save face and not look like they're walking away from the top WR on the market. Potential "mystery team" where the venn diagram for need - #1 or high end #2 - and salary cap intersect:
Carolina - maybe has enough salary? Currently projected to have $26M in cap, but they have a TON of holes and still need $15-20ish million for draft/in season moves.
Houston - $50M in cap. Nico Collins has been good for them, but Robert Woods is washed. They could use some help on the interior line as well as defensive line. Still, they have a real weapon in Stroud, so getting him another weapon opposite Collins who is also a deep threat - Nico gets almost half of his YPC (16.1) through his YAC (7.1) - could make a lot of sense. Since this rebuild, however, I feel like theyre trying to build their roster the right way. I kind of feel like they'd focus on a deep WR draft instead of Ridley.
Colts - They have plenty of cap - $40ish million after Pittman tag - but I'm not sure of the fit. They also have Pierce - drafted in the 2nd round 2 seasons ago - and Downs - drafted in the 3rd last year. If they loved Ridley, I don't think either player would stop them from going in on him, but they definitely have other holes to fill - especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Green Bay - $31M in cap, so starting to get up against it. Not traditionally known to spend in the free agent market. Offense performed perfectly well last year, so could see them using their cap space to upgrade their very mediocre defense.
Arizona - $42M in cap. They certainly have a need for a WR...but they also had arguably the worst defense in football last year. They have bigger fish to fry.
So, with that quick breakdown, my feeling is...Houston? Maybe? I kind of think the "mystery team" is that Scott Boras special and am crossing my fingers it means Ridleys market is lower than anticipated (which also might mean he doesnt sign right away, hoping people miss out on their first options and fall back onto him).
And you dont think the players have extreme overlapping skill sets?My guess is the idea was to upgrade Zay Jones who they'll probably cut once Ridley is agreed.
They upgraded interior O-line and safety, they'll cut Jones to pay Ridley, still do one or more of the extend/re-structures, and work out a LTC with Allen to sign a CB (plenty still out there), and with 17 and 48 they'll be well positioned to add impact defensive players or an OT.
I didn't realize he was 21 as a Bama Freshman. I was wondering how the hell he was 30 already as the one year suspension definitely didn't seem like enough to get him there.Ridley was a 21 year old Freshman at Alabama (I'm sure there is a story here I don't know the details about). No wonder it always sounds odd to me when people say he's going to be in his age 30 season. It's more than just the 1 year suspension, he started in the NFL at age 24 and has had a pretty atypical development path.
Having said that, I tend to agree generally. I'd probably put more weight on the chronological age compared to # of snaps taken in the NFL, especially for a WR.
Brissett alone is probably 3 more wins.We're getting the 4-13 gang back together!
View: https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1767636217586139269?s=20
Its weird to say about a 4-13 team, but this is - again - another one Im ok with. As much as I'd like an impact defensive player, I think the defense was pretty good last year. I wouldn't hate to see them go after one of the better free agent corners. I also wouldn't mind seeing them go after a guy like Devin White. I'm not all that enamored with our linebackers, and if they can get good value on him - not sure after the Queen $13M price tag - I'd strongly consider it.We're getting the 4-13 gang back together!
View: https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1767636217586139269?s=20
The Pats got Nate Solder at pick 17 and Matt Light at pick 48. Don't recall if they were instant starters, but if they weren't they were early in their careers.So, what are we going to do about LT? Unless they use #3 on an LT, it would be pretty unlikely anyone they draft would be able to come in and start, right? Or, how low can you go in the draft and still get a day 1 starting LT in the NFL? I'd think not outside the top 10, right?
it really depends. They could get someone at 34 who can start, but I wouldn't count on it.So, what are we going to do about LT? Unless they use #3 on an LT, it would be pretty unlikely anyone they draft would be able to come in and start, right? Or, how low can you go in the draft and still get a day 1 starting LT in the NFL? I'd think not outside the top 10, right?