3 fallback options at WR for the Jaguars after losing Calvin Ridley

1. Tee Higgins, trade with the Cincinnati Bengals

After the 2023 season, it looked like Tee Higgins could sign with the Jaguars. However you look at it, it simply made too much sense. For starters, he was Trevor Lawrence's No. 1 receiver in Clemson and Lawrence said that he would love to reunite with Higgins. When you take into account that Calvin Ridley was set to hit the open market, signing Higgins appeared doable.

But then, the Cincinnati Bengals ruined the fun and used the franchise tag on Higgins, effectively preventing him from hitting the open market. Also, Jacksonville made an effort to keep Ridley, so signing Higgins became a distant possibility. That said, you should always expect the unexpected in the NFL, and suddenly there's a path for the Jags to acquire Higgins.

For starters, Higgins has requested a trade. He's not interested in returning to Cincy after not getting a long-term deal. On the other hand, Ridley left Jacksonville to join the division-rival Tennessee Titans. If the Jags want to get the best possible replacement for Ridley, they should then get on the phone with the Bengals and inquire about Higgins.

Besides having to give Higgins a deal, the Jags would have to compensate Cincinnati. Fortunately for them, they kept their second-round pick after letting Ridley walk. Sure, they gave the Atlanta Falcons their third as part of the trade they made in 2022 but they still have the ammo to potentially trade for Higgins.

Maybe a second and a sixth will get a deal done. Or maybe a couple of third-rounders, one this year (they got an extra one) and one in 2025 could seal the deal. Is it a long shot? Probably, but there's no doubt that Tee Higgins would be the best possible replacement for Calvin Ridley.

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