Jaguars WR/QB tandem of Trevor Lawrence and Calvin Ridley can be the best in the NFL

Having a good quarterback gives NFL clubs a better chance to win games but they cannot do it all themselves. Someone has to catch the ball right? The Jacksonville Jaguars have one of the best signal-callers in the league and they know that he needs a top-notch supporting cast to succeed. This is why they traded for wide receiver Calvin Ridley last year. While Lawrence and Ridley have just started to work together, they have the potential to be the top quarterback/receiver tandem in the league.

Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports recently ranked the best WR/QB duos in the NFL ahead of the 2023 season and ranked Lawrence and Ridley at No. 3, noting that their spot is dependent on how Ridley fares after being away from football for more than a year.

"This all comes down to how Ridley responds from a year-long suspension for gambling, especially since he hasn't played an NFL game since October of 2021. Ridley has also been a No. 1 wideout before, so this isn't uncharted territory with the Jaguars. "

Kerr is right. As a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Ridley showed he can be a bonafide No. 1 receiver, hauling in 90 receptions for 1,375 yards with nine touchdowns in 2020. That year, Julio Jones missed seven games with injuries but the Falcons passing game didn't miss a beat, ranking fifth in total yards and 13th in touchdowns scored.

In Jacksonville, Ridley will join a wide receiver corps that includes Zay Jones and Christian Kirk. Without him, they were 10th in points scored and 10th in total yards last year. With him, the Jags have a realistic chance to field a top 5, maybe top 3 offense in 2023.

Kirk crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career last season. Although Ridley will take away some of his targets, his presence should also draw away coverage, which should in turn provide Kirk with more favorable matchup.

The Jacksonville Jaguars can have the best WR/QB tandem in the NFL in 2023

There are only two WR/QB tandems above the Jaguars in Kerr's ranking and they were Aaron Rodgers/Garrett Wilson (New York Jets) and Dak Prescott/Brandin Cooks (Dallas Cowboys). Kerr points out that Cooks will mostly face No. 2 cornerbacks due to the presence of Ceedee Lamb and adds that Prescott is the best quarterback he's ever played with.

On the other hand, Kerr notes that Wilson thrived despite catching passes from Mike White and Zach Wilson, so it's easy to think that he should post even better numbers with Rodgers behind center. All things considered, those are sound arguments but the truth is that you could shuffle the order of the top 3 duos on the rankings and it would still make sense. In fact, the Jaguars at No. 1 wouldn't look out of place.

Lawrence made a huge leap last season and he should keep getting better in Year 2. Similarly, Ridley is ready to prove he's still a great receiver, and it's not unreasonable to think he can be as productive next season as he was in 2020 with Lawrence throwing passes to him.

The Jacksonville Jaguars exceeded expectations in 2022 but they aren't resting on their laurels. Don't be surprised if Lawrence's MVP candidacy gains steam next season and Ridley is discussed as one of the top receivers in the league.