Calvin Ridley reportedly prefers Jaguars over Patriots; "dark horse" team lurking

BOSTON -- Calvin Ridley entered free agency as the top wide receiver available. Yet Calvin Ridley entered Tuesday without a new team.

After the legal negotiating window opened Monday at noon, deals were agreed upon around the league. Yet Ridley didn't agree to any deal with anyone, and the wide receiver market -- such as it is -- continues to be held in limbo.

All along, we've known that the Patriots intended to take a serious run at Ridley. And reports Monday indicated that despite the Jaguars signing Gabe Davis, they still hoped to re-sign Ridley. On Tuesday, CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported that a "dark horse" candidate is also lurking.

Of course, a skeptical eye will see that report and deduce that Ridley isn't quite getting the big-money offer he had hoped for, so the emergence of a mystery team could help increase some of the numbers from any existing offers on the table. At the same time, it's NFL free agency, so nothing can be ruled out.

The 29-year-old Ridley missed most of the 2021 season as he addressed his mental health before missing the entire 2022 season due to a gambling suspension. He returned to the field in 2023 with the Jaguars, catching 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns while playing in all 17 games. A first-round pick (26th overall) by the Falcons in 2018, Ridley averaged 72 receptions for 1,020 yards and 8.7 touchdowns per season in his first three years in the NFL.

At 6-foot-1, he may not fit the bill as a prototypical No. 1 receiver, but with a number of receivers re-signing with their teams or getting franchise tagged, Ridley emerged as the top free agent in this year's class. His market appears to be a bit limited, though it only takes one "dark horse" for the picture to change quickly.

UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported early Tuesday afternoon that Ridley prefers the Jaguars over the Patriots.

Reading between the lines, Schefter's update suggests that the Patriots' offer is for more money than what the Jaguars are offering, with Ridley hoping to get some more money out of Jacksonville before making a decision.