The Patriots are seemingly in limbo as they continue to seek a veteran wide receiver addition thanks to the terms of impending Jaguars free agent Calvin Ridley’s previous trade from the Falcons.
If Ridley re-signs with the Jaguars before Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, then Jacksonville will owe the Falcons a second-round pick. If he re-signs with the Jaguars after Wednesday at 4 p.m., then Jacksonville will only owe the Falcons a third-round pick.
The Patriots have an offer on the table to Ridley, per a source. But Ridley reportedly is also weighing an offer from the Jaguars. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that “sources believe that (Ridley) currently prefers to return to Jacksonville.”
Ridley, 29, was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Alabama by the Falcons. He missed most of the 2021 season for mental health reasons and then was suspended for the entire 2022 season for betting on the NFL.
While suspended, Ridley was traded to the Jaguars and caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards with eight touchdowns in his return to football in 2023. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2020 and has 324 career receptions for 4,358 yards with 36 touchdowns in five seasons.
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Top free-agent wide receivers Gabe Davis (Jaguars) and Darnell Mooney (Falcons) are off the market. Marquise Brown and Curtis Samuel are the top remaining wide receivers after Ridley. Tee Higgins, who was franchised by the Bengals, also could be available in a trade.
The Chargers also need to trim over $26 million in salary cap space before Wednesday at 4 p.m. to be cap compliant.
The Patriots have checked in with the Chargers on obvious trade/cut candidates during this week’s open negotiating period, sources told the Herald.
Their most obvious trade/cut candidates are wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen and edge defenders Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.
The Patriots have needs at both wide receiver and edge defender.
Williams is due a $17 million salary and has a $3 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2024 league year. Allen is due an $18.1 million salary and has a $5 million roster bonus due March 17. Mack is due a $17.55 million salary and has a $5.5 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2024 league year. Bosa is due a $17 million salary and has a $7 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2024 league year.
The Patriots have the salary cap space to acquire any of the four players if conversations progress to trade talks.
Williams will be 30 in October and missed most of the 2023 season with a torn ACL. He has two 1,000-yard seasons to his name, however, and caught 63 passes for 895 yards with four touchdowns in 13 games in 2022. He caught 19 passes for 249 yards with one touchdown before his injury last season.
Allen will be 32 in April and is coming off of a 108-catch, 1,243-yard season with seven touchdowns in just 13 games. The six-time Pro Bowl selection has spent his entire 11-year career with the Chargers and has been a 1,000-yard receiver six times.
Mack had 17 sacks last season with the Chargers. The 33-year-old pass rusher has also spent time with the Raiders and Bears and has 101.5 career sacks in 10 seasons with eight Pro Bowl nods.
Bosa, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Chargers. He has 67 career sacks but has played just 14 games over the last two seasons and will be 29 in July.
The Patriots re-signed wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Jalen Reagor and plan to cut DeVante Parker — who already agreed to a deal with the Eagles — on Wednesday. They also have wide receivers Kawaan Baker, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, T.J. Luther, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton on their 90-man roster.
Edge defender Josh Uche agreed to re-sign on a one-year contract Tuesday, while Anfernee Jennings will hit free agency on Wednesday. The team also has Keion White, Deatrich Wise and Matthew Judon at defensive end/outside linebacker.