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Browns Could Trade For WR Calvin Ridley In NFL Offseason

The Cleveland Browns were one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL during the 2021 season. After the strong showing they had in the postseason in 2021, many people thought they could be a dark horse contender for the Super Bowl.

They fell well short of those expectations. Cleveland didn’t even qualify for the postseason, as they went 8-9 on the campaign. A big reason for their shortcomings was the performance of quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Some of the issues likely stemmed from the shoulder injury that required surgery after the season. The talent at the wide receiver spot didn’t help his cause either. The Odell Beckham Jr. acquisition was a mitigated disaster, as he was released during the season. Alas, given how well he has played with the Los Angeles Rams, it is clear he was not the issue in Cleveland.

The Browns could opt to move on from Mayfield this offseason and upgrade at the position. However, no matter who is under center for the team in 2022, they need to bring in some help at wide receiver.

If the Browns take the trade route again to make that happen, one potential option could be Calvin Ridley of the Atlanta Falcons. Ridley to the Browns is one of the blockbuster trades that Bleacher Report shared in a recent piece.

Ridley missed the final 12 games of the 2021 season as he stepped away to work on his mental health. There is nothing concrete about whether or not he is coming back this season as he works through things. But, if he is ready to return, he is the exact kind of talent that the Browns could use.

Ridley was well on his way to cementing himself as a top wide receiver in the league. He had a monster breakout in 2020, stepping into the No. 1 receiver role for the Falcons when Julio Jones was injured. He finished that season with 1,374 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

There is no guarantee that he will return to the field for 2022 or that the Falcons will trade him. However, Atlanta is cash-strapped and has plenty of other holes on the roster. Trading Ridley is a way to alleviate those issues, as the Browns could offer draft compensation.

What could it take to get Ridley? Bleacher Report believes a conditional second-round pick in 2023 could do the trick. That gives Cleveland a little protection in the deal. If Ridley returns and plays well, it would increase in value. If not, the pick could decrease in value.

Despite how things turned out with Beckham, this is a risk worth taking should the Falcons look to move him. He would provide more production than anyone they would be using that pick on and provide an element to the offense that they are sorely lacking.

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