The Buffalo Bills have reportedly already lost their starting wide receiver from last year as Gabe Davis signed a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, the Jaguars still have a big decision to make at the position surrounding Calvin Ridley.
The Falcons traded Ridley to the Jaguars in 2022 and he played one season in Jacksonville. However, part of the details of the trade is that if the Jaguars extend Ridley before the start of the 2024 league year, Atlanta would get a second round pick. If they wait until after the start, then it remains a third round pick.
It would make sense for the Jaguars want to wait to keep their second round pick but it comes with considerable risk because Calvin Ridley can be negotating with other teams. This could also mean Jacksonville has to pay a bigger contract.
On Tuesday, CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones said that the Jaguars still wanted to bring Ridley back but the New England Patriots were also hoping to sign him. Interestingly though, Jones includes in his tweet that there is a "darkhorse lurking".
Calvin Ridley remains the top free-agent wide receiver on the market. The Jaguars wish to retain him, and the Patriots hope to sign him. Sources say there could be a darkhorse lurking as well. Money will be interesting with a deep draft class at that position coming.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 12, 2024
Could the Buffalo Bills be the dark horse team interested in Calvin Ridley?
In terms of need, it makes perfect sense for the Buffalo Bills to be interested in Calvin Ridley. The wide receiver position is a concern with Stefon Diggs and Khalil Shakir as their first and second with unproven players behind them.
This past season, Ridley may not have lived up to expectations but still had 76 receptions, 1,016 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. There is no question that Ridley and Diggs would be an improvement from what the team has had in recent years at the position.
Another reason the Bills could be that unnamed team is that general manager Brandon Beane is usually involved in these type of discussions. Shortly after the Buffalo Bills signed Von Miller back in 2022, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was on The Pat McAfee Show discussing the signing and said:
""The Bills are always the mystery team because they don't want anyone to know they're involved and they insist on secrecy.""
It will be interesting to see if Ian Rapoport is correct once again and the Buffalo Bills make a big signing during free agency.