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Missing out on Ridley is a disappointing start to free agency for Pats originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Patriots had a need. A glaring one. They had the money available to get the clear-cut top option available in free agency to fill that need. They were interested in him. And he’s ending up elsewhere.
If you’re the Patriots or one of their fans, that has to qualify as disappointing.
Former Jaguars wideout Calvin Ridley, according to multiple reports, has signed a massive deal with the Titans. Per NFL Media, Ridley is getting a four-year deal worth $92 million and $50 million fully guaranteed.
The disappointing part, if you’re the Patriots? Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, New England had a deal on the table for Ridley worth “around $22 million” per year, and his new contract will have an average annual value of $23 million per year.
Eliot Wolf, Jerod Mayo and the Patriots front office were in the ballpark. But they’re watching one of the free agents they targeted — thanks to his versatility, route-running ability and explosiveness — head elsewhere.
The deal for Ridley is surprisingly large — Pro Football Focus pegged his value at around $16 million per year — but it’s not a record-setting contract.
The average annual value of the deal, according to Over The Cap, will rank ninth in the NFL among receivers — just ahead of tagged wideouts Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman ($21.8 million) and just behind Washington’s Terry McLaurin ($23.2 million). For a wideout like Ridley, 29 — who could be argued as a top-25 player at his position (he was 27th in yards last year) — it’s not unusual for a free-agent deal to rank well ahead of where he may sit at his position.
That’s what happened with Ridley. And the Patriots were close to making the winning bid. Just not close enough.
What might make Ridley’s choice to go with Tennessee over New England a little harder for the team’s brass to swallow is that the Titans are actually in a similar position to the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/missing-ridley-disappointing-start-free-220024252.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-03-13 22:48:44
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