Patriots Free Agency Rumors: New England Set to Lure Premium WR Calvin Ridley in a Major Move After Trading Away Mac Jones to the Jags

The recent trade that sent Mac Jones from the Patriots to the Jaguars sure shook things up! After three seasons with the Pats, Jones is heading to Jacksonville. But the partnership between the two teams might hit a snag as free agency kicks off. There’s chatter about whether this deal might open the door to more player swaps between them. Especially with the Patriots sitting pretty with a hefty cap space.

Word on the street is they’re eyeing Calvin Ridley. He’s the Jaguars’ star receiver. With teams lining up for the chance to snag a 1,000-yard receiver like Ridley, the Patriots could very well be in the mix. It’s all eyes on these teams as free agency unfolds.

Calvin Ridley could move to New England

According to Chad Graff, the Pats are gearing up for a major play to snag Calvin Ridley from the Jags. After big names like Mike Evans, Michael Pittman Jr., and Tee Higgins are off the table, Ridley’s the hotshot in the 2024 free-agent lineup. Ridley made waves with the Jaguars last season after sitting out in 2022. Despite a few ups and downs, he still racked up 76 catches, crossed the 1,000-yard mark, and danced into the end zone eight times!

Now, the Pats have been on the hunt for a wideout for a while. They might just see Ridley as their panacea. With a hefty $82.8 million to play with, the Patriots are in a prime spot to bag some big names. The Jaguars, sitting at $18.2 million, might just have to part with Ridley.

If Ridley lands in New England, it might just be the clue that the Patriots are eyeing a quarterback with their No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft. Speaking of which, Mac Jones is now heading back to his hometown.

A homecoming for Mac Jones!

Mac Jones is heading back to his roots in Jacksonville. In what’s turned into quite the buzz, the Patriots are sending him off to the Jaguars. And all it took was a sixth-round pick. Now, everything’s set to get rolling with the new league year starting Wednesday, as long as Jones aces his physical.

Jones, who was the 15th pick in the 2021 draft, had a decent start. Even made it to the Pro Bowl and got the Patriots into the playoffs. And that’s saying something without Tom Brady around. But he ended up riding the bench for a good chunk of 2023 after kicking things off with a rough 2-9.

It’s a new beginning and now Jones has a chance to reignite his career right in his hometown.

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