Jaguars could use a first round pick to replace Calvin Ridley
The 2023 season didn't go according to plan for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They entered the season with a lot of hype after how well the team performed the season prior where they won the AFC South and gave the eventual Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs all they could handle in the AFC Divisional Round.
The Jags had a lot of disappointing players in 2023 but Calvin Ridley, despite putting up decent stats, appeared to be one of them. Ridley didn't play in 2022 due to a suspension but the Jaguars had added him knowing he wouldn't play that year. He finished his inaugural season in Jacksonville with 76 receptions for 1,016 yards.
Be that as it may, a report surfaced that said the Jags "were disappointed and frustrated with Calvin Ridley last year". Apparently, Ridley was not reliable in yards after catch and missed assignments. With him set to hit free agency this spring, finding a replacement in the draft makes sense.
"The Jaguars were disappointed and frustrated with the play of Ridley last year. Ridley was under-weight, did not supply the YAC, and had a plethora of missed assignments.... the Jaguars want a big outside WR for T. Lawrence and that the position is a rd priority on Day 1 or 2." https://t.co/m21Xz1kPbs
— Amp Wigg (@ShopTalkingWigg) January 31, 2024
Will Jaguars look to replace Calvin Ridley in 2024 NFL Draft?
Trevor Lawrence will be entering his fourth season in 2024 and it's do or die for the former first overall pick. If the team can get him a can't-miss wide receiver, that could take his career to the next level and get the Jaguars to a Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
The Jags hold the 17th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft so they're not going to be able to land someone like Marvin Harrison Jr. or Malik Nabers unless they make a major trade and move up to the top 5 of the draft. That seems unlikely.
While Nabers isn't a very likely option for them, the Jags could opt to go with another LSU wide receiver in Brian Thomas Jr. Thomas had 1,177 yards and a whopping 17 touchdowns during the 2023 season so there's no doubt that he can be a huge weapon for whichever team is lucky enough to land him in the draft.
The Jags will have to decide if they want to give Ridley a big contract this offseason or replace him. They'll likely be extending Lawrence this offseason so that could make drafting a wide receiver the wise decision here.
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