Following a dismal 4-13 season in 2023, a coaching change for the first time in 24 years, and a new front office setup, the 2024 Patriots offseason will focus mostly on rebuilding the roster. To be honest, that task is significantly more difficult than the ones that have been completed thus far.
However, the team has to bolster its offensive line in every area. The most pressing issue, aside from the quarterback position, may be the ailing receiver corps. According to NBC Sports Boston team insider Phil Perry, they are investing heavily in adding Jaguars star Calvin Ridley as part of a realistic plan to rebuild the roster.
“If the Patriots sign Ridley to a multi-year deal, they could work his Year 1 cap hit down to $8 or $9 million, Perry notes. Ridley missed the entire 2022 season due to a suspension for illegal sports betting but racked up 1,016 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season and would give New England the true No. 1 receiver it has sorely lacked for years.”
Calvin Robinson 2022 was lost due to gambling suspension.
The Patriots would greatly benefit from having Ridley. He had a season in which he amassed 1,374 yards for the Falcons back in 2020, and he recorded 1,016 yards receiving with the Jaguars last year.
There should be some worry about the period in between those seasons. For mental health issues, Ridley withdrew from the game in 2021. During that time, he wagered on NFL and NBA games, including wagers on the Falcons. After being discovered, he was suspended for the entirety of the 2022 campaign, in which time Jacksonville acquired him from Atlanta.
Later on, Ridley acknowledged and accepted responsibility for his gambling, and he has since spoken out to help other players avoid his own mistakes.
He won’t come cheap, as Perry estimates Ridley will get a contract in the range of $16 million per year. Spotrac projects him getting, on a four-year, $68 million deal, while Pro Football Focus also has him at $17 million with a
He has talent, and the Patriots need just that from a position that features disappointing veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker, as well as free agent Kendrick Bourne. Bringing back Bourne to be a No. 2 receiver makes some sense, and the Pats do have promising rookie Pop Douglas on hand.
