4 players not named Calvin Ridley the Jaguars can trade for this offseason

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in need of difference-makers and not long ago, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley seemed like a player they could have potentially traded for. If he had come out of his retirement after hanging up the cleats in the middle of the 2021 season, he would have been in demand. However, the Jags and other teams interested in his services were most likely shocked to find out he just got a one-year suspension for betting on NFL games.

The Falcons knew Ridley was going to get some kind of punishment for his actions, so they refused to engage in trade talks with other clubs out of good faith. While acquiring Ridley is no longer a feasible option, here are four players the Jaguars could still trade for this offseason.

No. 1 player the Jaguars can trade for in 2022 – Chase Claypool, WR.

The talent well at wide receiver is quickly dying out and players that were expected to hit the open market will ultimately stay with their clubs. Michael Gallup, Chris Godwin, and Mike Williams all are poised to remain with their respective teams and if the Jaguars aren’t thrilled about their options in free agency or the draft, they could give the Pittsburgh Steelers a call and inquire about Chase Claypool.

Back in early February, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN put together a list of 20 under-the-radar trade candidates and Claypool popped up. Fowler thinks that Pittsburgh’s next general manager might want to build around Diontae Johnson, Najee Harris, and Pat Freiermuth, which would make Claypool expendable.

The former Fighting Irish isn’t lacking talent but he isn’t a favorite of head coach Mike Tomlin and could benefit from a change of scenery. Claypool has posted 800 yards in back-to-back seasons but reached the end zone just twice in 2021 after scoring eight touchdowns the year before. It wouldn’t hurt the Jags to give the Steelers the call and see how much they want for him.