Jaguars better off trading for Calvin Ridley than Amari Cooper

The Jacksonville Jaguars are entering the offseason with the second most resources in the NFL, which is good since they need to fill many roster holes and upgrade several position groups, including but not limited to the wide receiver corps. To take care of it, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has a trade idea.

Knox recently put together a list of blockbuster NFL trades everyone wants to see this offseason. he suggests the Jags send a 2022 third-round selection and a 2023 third-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for wide receiver Amari Cooper. Knox points out that Big-D is $21.2 million over the cap and sees the former Alabama standout as a potential cap causality. However, he thinks Dallas will try to trade him before giving him the boot.

"The Jacksonville Jaguars would have no trouble absorbing Cooper’s salary. They’re projected to have $57.3 million in cap space, third-most in the NFL. Jacksonville should also look to upgrade the receiving corps around 2021 No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence.New head coach Doug Pederson noted in his introductory press conference that Lawrence was a big selling point in Jacksonville. Adding a receiver like Cooper to the mix would help set up Lawrence for success."

As Nox noted, Cooper has made four Pro Bowls and averaged 1,056 yards over the last three years. Moreover, the Jaguars would have no trouble taking on Cooper’s 2021 salary but due to the Cowboys’ cap constraints, the Jags are better off waiting for them to release him. The wide receiver is set to earn a salary of $16 million per year over the next three seasons, which isn’t cost-prohibitive and fits Jacksonville’s budget. However, if they would need to part ways with draft picks and if that’s the route they want to take, they should then consider targeting another former Crimson Tide wide receiver.

The Jaguars will have options at wide receiver this offseason.

While it’s better to wait for the Cowboys to dump Cooper, the Jaguars could also trade for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley — who also popped up on Knox’s list — if they miss on him. The 2018 first-round pick retired at midpoint last season to focus on his mental health. Knox sees the Cleveland Browns offering a conditional 2023 second-round choice for Ridley. That’s a price the Jags shouldn’t mind paying for his services.

During his first three seasons in the pros, Ridley posted 217 receptions for 3,061 yards with 26 trips to the end zone. Jacksonville would surely welcome that kind of production to their wide receiver corps. Of course, the Jaguars may need to give him a new deal if they acquired him but they have the means to compensate him, so it wouldn’t be an issue.

Steve Wyche of NFL Media appeared on 92.9 The Game earlier this year and said that Ridley could be looking for “a fresh start“. If he’s indeed looking to leave A-Town, the Jaguars should do due diligence on the matter. While it’s uncertain what his current situation is, they could give the Falcons a call to test the waters.

Trevor Lawrence needs a better supporting cast and the Jaguars have the resources to bolster their wide receiver corps. It’s up to them to decide how they will best address it but trading for Ridley is an option they need to consider.