Another surprising trade occurred before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. The Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms on a deal involving a currently suspended player. Calvin Ridley, who lost the entire 2022 season after violating the NFL’s gambling policy, has been dealt to the Jags, as first reported by Mia O’Brien.
The #Jaguars are trading for #Falcons WR Calvin Ridley, per multiple sources.
Compensation still being finalized. Ridley is currently serving a suspension for betting on NFL games during the 2021 season.
— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) November 1, 2022
“The Jaguars are trading for Falcons WR Calvin Ridley, per multiple sources,” O’Brien said in a tweet. NFL insider Adam Schefter would then go on to detail the trade, which involve a 2023 5th-round pick and a conditional pick in 2024. The conditions on that 2024 pick are vastly different than many others in the past:
Here are the conditions on the 2024 4th rounder that is going from Jags to Falcons, per source.
It stays as a 4 if Calvin Ridley is on the roster.
It goes to a 3 if Ridley reaches certain incentives.
And it becomes a 2 if the Jaguars sign Ridley to a contract extension. https://t.co/e6yoxa05fh
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2022
“It stays as a 4 if Calvin Ridley is on the roster,” said Schefter in the tweet. “It goes to a 3 if Ridley reaches certain incentives. And it becomes a 2 if the Jaguars sign Ridley to a contract extension.”
With Ridley being acquired by the Jaguars, some great hilarity has ensued. Earlier in the year, he was suspended for the entire season after violating the NFL’s gambling policies. Details that were unearthed revealed a nugget that the former Falcon gambled on the team to beat… the Jaguars.
Per a source informed of the investigation, Ridley placed three parlays (3-, 5- and 8-teams) and bet on the Falcons to win. All of the bets were placed between Nov. 23-28 — the Falcons beat Jacksonville on Nov. 28. All of the bets were via a mobile app in Florida.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) March 7, 2022
All roads lead somewhere, don’t they? Ultimately, the Jaguars are taking a chance on a very talented receiver. He is currently suspended, but assuming he hasn’t lost it entirely, this could prove to be a good gamble for the Jags.
As you can imagine, reactions have poured in from the NFL world. Some were cheekier than others:
Art imitates Life 🤣 https://t.co/2wphHzNoXZ
— Jeff Johnson (@JeffJSays) November 1, 2022
to be fair here, betting against Urban Meyer last year was a layup. https://t.co/4C1sf6XIau
— Danny Cunningham (@RealDCunningham) November 1, 2022
Backing yourself has never been more surreal, in both literal and figurative senses. https://t.co/sZPTn2SpcX
— Andrew Cunneen (@Cunneen92) November 1, 2022
Ridley will be 28 next year – still very much in his prime as a receiver.
The Jags desperately need someone who can actually be a true number one for them, and this will (hopefully, eventually) be it.
Best trade that all sides could hope for imo. https://t.co/jTO4jB3zVn
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) November 1, 2022
The #NFL remains undefeated as the best soap opera in the world. https://t.co/vlbNfgBXb5
— Andrew Gamble (@andrew_gamble) November 1, 2022
The Jags really need a bigger-play receiver moving forward after they overspent on mediocre options this offseason. Ridley can be that.
I like this bet. https://t.co/AG5mnutQ85
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) November 1, 2022
This transaction brought you by @DraftKings. https://t.co/VhfDHbmQ58
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) November 1, 2022
That's one hell of a bet by Jacksonville. Wow. https://t.co/EAvCzpCvl8
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) November 1, 2022
