Patriots Calvin Ridley signs four-year deal with Titans

Patriots miss out on Calvin Ridley as he signs with Titans. New England may target other free agents or look to the draft.

The New England Patriots put forth a significant effort to acquire Calvin Ridley, a top-tier wide receiver, but ultimately fell short in securing his services. Ridley has signed a lucrative four-year, $92 million deal with the Tennessee Titans, with $50 million guaranteed, as reported by NFL Network. Despite the Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars being considered the top contenders for Ridley, the Titans swooped in and secured the deal.

As the most talented wide receiver available in free agency, Ridley piqued the interest of New England, aligning with Eliot Wolf's vision to enhance the team's offensive firepower. The Patriots now face the challenge of finding an alternative option to bolster their receiving corps. Potential avenues include targeting other free agents like Marquise "Hollywood" Brown or exploring trade opportunities for players like Tee Higgins or Brandon Aiyuk. The upcoming NFL Draft also presents an opportunity for the Patriots to address their needs, as they hold the third overall pick and the 34th overall pick.

In other NFL news, the Los Angeles Chargers released wide receiver Mike Williams, freeing up $20 million in salary cap space. Williams, a former seventh overall pick, had a standout season in 2021 but was sidelined by injuries in the following season. The Miami Dolphins parted ways with cornerback Xavien Howard, a four-time Pro Bowler, after eight seasons with the team. The Las Vegas Raiders made moves to create salary cap space by releasing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and receiver Hunter Renfrow.

The Kansas City Chiefs restructured Patrick Mahomes' contract to free up salary cap space for roster improvements, while the Dallas Cowboys successfully defended against a defamation lawsuit filed by a woman claiming to be Jerry Jones' daughter. The New York Jets acquired offensive tackle Morgan Moses from the Baltimore Ravens in a trade deal, and the Buffalo Bills signed free agent receiver Mack Hollins. The Jacksonville Jaguars saw domestic battery charges against Zay Jones dropped, and the Washington Commanders inked a two-year deal with safety Jeremy Reaves.