One player that a lot of people are going to be keeping an eye on this offseason is Atlanta Falcons wide receiver, Calvin Ridley. Ridley isn’t a free agent, but there is a chance that he is on the move this offseason if he opts to return to the field. Plenty of teams would have interest in trading for the wideout, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be a sleeper destination to watch.
Ridley left the team after five games in 2021, stepping away from football so that he can focus on his mental wellbeing. His future is certainly up in the air, as there has been no indication that he will be continuing his career in 2022. If he does decide to return, it very well could be with another team.
The Falcons have some salary cap issues to sift through and have plenty of holes on their roster. If they can flip Ridley for some draft compensation to fill numerous holes on affordable contracts, it is something they will seriously consider doing.
Atlanta could certainly use help at wide receiver, but a fresh start for both sides may be what is best. If the Falcons shop him, plenty of teams will look to try and acquire him. One of the teams that could inquire is the Falcons’ NFC South rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Over at Bleacher Report, they put a piece together making trades to create elite wide receiver and quarterback combos. While this piece was written before Tom Brady retired, it still makes a lot of sense for the Buccaneers to pursue Ridley.
Facing Ridley two times per season for the foreseeable future is likely something that the Falcons would want to avoid. However, if the Buccaneers can present a strong offer, it will be difficult to turn that down.
The proposed deal at Bleacher Report is a second and third-round pick in 2022 heading to Atlanta for Ridley. Ridley would be a much-needed upgrade to a wide receiver group that could undergo major changes for the 2022 season.
Chris Godwin is entering free agency and there is a chance that he signs elsewhere. Antonio Brown will not be with the team after he was released during the season following a bizarre display against the New York Jets.
Ridley would make for a dynamic duo with Mike Evans, giving whoever is under center for the Buccaneers at quarterback arguably the best one-two punch at wide receiver in the NFL. Evans has surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau all eight seasons of his career. Ridley broke out in 2020 before stepping away in 2021, catching 90 passes for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns.
