Report: Jacksonville Jaguars In Jeopardy Of Losing 2024 2nd-Round NFL Draft Pick

Those are solid stats for the veteran wide receiver, as he led the Jaguars in receiving. Ridley’s play has made the Jaguars’ decision to extend him in free agency difficult. Per Josh Alber with NBC Sports, Jaguars GM Chris Baakle said in January the team wants Ridley back for the 2024 season:

Baalke said that Ridley “did some awfully good things” while catching 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns and that he thinks the arrow is pointed up for the wideout for 2024, but a return isn’t a sure thing.

“When you bring in somebody in that hasn’t been a part of football for over a year and a half, you gotta knock the rust off,” Baalke said. “He did that and, at times, he showed who he was and what he used to and what he can be. The sky’s the limit. He’s only going to get better because of the way he works. When you love something as much as he loves football, you can’t help but get better. We would love to have Calvin back. We are going to work toward that. What that means is, I don’t know right now.”

If the Jaguars have to use the franchise tag on Allen, it might impact their ability to hold onto Ridley before the start of free agency so there will be a lot to watch as the offseason gets rolling in Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Jaguars could lose their second-round pick

Per Adam Schefter with ESPN, the Jaguars must factor in another variable to extend Ridley. Per the Jaguars trade terms with the Falcons, Atlanta would go from receiving a third-round pick in 2024 to Jacksonville’s second-round pick.

“Should WR Calvin Ridley re-sign with Jacksonville, the Jaguars would owe a second-round pick to Atlanta — No. 48 overall — as part of the conditions from their trade last year. The Falcons currently have a third-round pick, No. 79 overall, via Jacksonville.”

Is Ridley worth the money and draft capital?

Not only would the Jaguars have to spend a substantial amount of money to keep the 29-year-old wide receiver, but they’d also give up precious draft capital to find a cheaper and younger player for the roster.

That makes keeping Ridley even more expensive, and given what the Jaguars will have to pay to keep quarterback Trevor Lawrence after his rookie deal is up, Baalke has no choice but to consider long-term contracts this offseason.