NFL

Calvin Ridley signing $92 million contract with Titans in NFL free agency splash

Calvin Ridley is headed to Music City.

The star wide receiver has signed a four-year, $92 million contract with the Titans, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

As part of the deal, $50 million of the contract will be guaranteed.

Calvin Ridley is signing with the Titans.
Calvin Ridley is signing with the Titans. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

“Chess not checkers love all Ridley,” the wideout wrote on X after details of the contract went public.

Ridley had been traded to the Jaguars in 2022 by the Falcons while he was suspended for the entire season after he violated the NFL’s sports betting policy.

He was reinstated in 2023 and appeared in all 17 games for the Jags, making 76 catches for 1,016 receiving yards.

The signing comes as a bit of a surprise since Schefter had reported earlier in the day that Ridley preferred to return to Jacksonville and had been discussing a deal with the Jaguars. 

The Patriots had also been “pushing” to sign the No. 1 free agent wide receiver and The Athletic had reported on Monday that Ridley had been “down to the Jaguars and Patriots.”

The report indicated that both teams felt “they’re in it” for RIdley. 

“There have been other teams involved, but the current likelihood is Ridley will be deciding between Jacksonville and New England,” The Athletic reported at the time. 

Since Ridley did not re-sign with the Jaguars before the new league year began on Wednesday at 4 p.m., the Jaguars owe the Falcons a 2024 third-round pick from the 2022 trade that sent the wide receiver to Florida in the first place. 

Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Tennessee Titans.
Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Tennessee Titans. AP

Had Ridley re-signed before then, Jacksonville would have had to have sent the Falcons a second-round pick. 

Ridley spent four seasons with the Falcons after Atlanta had drafted him in the first round of the 2018 draft. 

He set the NFL record for most touchdown receptions (six) by a rookie in his first four games. 

Ridley has two 1,000-yard seasons to his name during the course of his career as well.