The New England Patriots will have expansive cap room heading into free agency, and with a gaping hole at wide receiver, you can bet they will spend some cash to try and shore up the position.

Dakota Randall of Pro Football Network thinks the Patriots should target Jacksonville Jaguars wide out Calvin Ridley, who is slated to hit the open market this month.

Ridley is coming off of a terrific 2023 campaign in which he played every game and hauled in 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns.

That came after the Ridley sat out for about a year-and-a-half.

Back while he was with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021, Ridley stepped away from the game for personal reasons after playing in five contests. Then, that ensuing offseason, the star pass-catcher was suspended by the NFL for betting on games.

He was traded to the Jaguars while still suspended in November 2022, but in February 2023, he was reinstated by the league.

The 29-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was selected by the Falcons with the 26th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

He enjoyed an impressive rookie campaign, catching 64 passes for 821 yards and 10 scores. He then stagnated a bit the following year, snaring 63 balls for 866 yards while reaching the end zone seven times.

Then, in 2020, Ridley broke out, racking up 90 grabs for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns.

Ridley will be one of the best receivers on the market in the coming weeks, so the Patriots will certainly have competition for him.

But not many teams can afford to pay Ridley like New England can, so the Pats have an inside edge there.

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