time2rock Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Eagles Would Provide Perfect ‘Fresh Start’ for Falcons Star By Mike Greger Updated Jan 6, 2022 at 1:26pm Getty: Calvin Ridley #18 of the Atlanta Falcons. If Jalen Hurts is indeed going to be the franchise starter in Philadelphia – and it’s heading in that direction – then the Eagles would be wise to load up on talent at the skill positions. DeVonta Smith is entrenched as Hurts’ go-to receiver, with Dallas Goedert playing the role of trusty safety valve at tight end. Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins have flashed at times, but they don’t project as No. 2 receivers. Philadelphia has been rumored to be looking at receivers in the 2022 NFL draft, guys like Jameson Williams, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Treylon Burks all possess first-round talent. And the Eagles currently own three picks in the Top 21. But maybe the team would look to a veteran option on the trade market to pair opposite Smith. Enter Calvin Ridley. The Atlanta Falcons’ top target hasn’t seen a snap since October 24 and left the team on Halloween to deal with mental health issues. There’s been no sign that he wants to return while rumors churn that he’s on the trading block. NFL Network’s Steve Wyche thinks Ridley’s future with the Falcons is in jeopardy and both sides are looking for a "fresh start.” Ridley was also dealing with a knee (or hamstring) injury suffered at Falcons’ training camp. The team placed him on the non-football injury list on November 5. Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith talked about it during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show on November 13. "We don’t force anything, we wouldn’t force anybody back from any kind of injury,” Smith told Eisen, via Falcons Wire. "So, we take it day by day, or week by week, and that’s how we view it. There’s no timetable on it, nor would I push anybody on that.” Perfect Landing Spot for Ridley Philadelphia would be the ideal landing spot for Ridley. For starters, the Eagles are turning into a booster club for Alabama football. Ridley was actually a teammate to Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith in 2017 before Atlanta took him with the 26th overall pick. He’s been an elite pass-catcher in the NFL over the past four seasons: 248 receptions for 3,342 yards and 28 touchdowns. A reunion with Hurts would be deadly for opposing secondaries. Then there is the issue of Ridley’s public battle with mental health issues. There would be no better locker room to walk into than the Eagles where Lane Johnson is the outspoken face of anxiety and depression. He missed three games in 2021 due to the illness before opening up in an effort to help others. "The real message is don’t bottle it up. It’s easy to do that,” Johnson told reporters. "It’s easy to avoid situations that you don’t want to go through, something that’s going to be difficult. Don’t let your pride get in the way.” Eagles Coach Values Personal Connections Ridley would have the perfect coach to help him cope in Nick Sirianni, too. Reagor shared how Sirianni was the first person to talk to him and lift him up after he dropped a potential game-winning touchdown in New York. The fans berated him. And sports talk radio raged. Not Sirianni. He felt the need to personally connect with Reagor. The second-year receiver thinks Sirianni might be a better human being than a football coach. "That means an awful lot to me that he said that and talked about that first because, again, connecting is so important to me,” Sirianni said of Reagor’s comments. "I’ve talked to you guys about this, like why is connecting important to me? Because it’s a relationship business. "For my entire life growing up I would see grown men come to my parents’ house just to see my dad because they’re back in town and they wanted to come see my dad because they had a connection with him. I always thought that was so cool and one of the main reasons I got into coaching.” https://heavy.com/sports/philadelphia-eagles/calvin-ridley-trade-rumors/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2rock Posted January 7, 2022 Author Share Posted January 7, 2022 JJAW and a 3rd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchew88 Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 He is mentally weak. Said he had mental health issues due to all the social media hate. You think Philly is the fresh start? LMAO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 At least Brandon Brooks would have someone to hang with while away from the team for some unknown reason....................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EaglesAddict Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 I'd take Ridley...not sure what I'd give up for him though. I'd do a 2nd rounder...not sure about a 1st. Would also have to consider whether or not he could be prone to missing more games due to his mental health issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggs Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 He’ll be in the last year of his extended rookie contract in 2022 so don’t think it makes sense to use a 1st rounder vs drafting someone in the 1st for rookie comp. A mid round pick and JJAW or maybe Reagor and a lower pick could make sense, but there may be other wr options in FA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdman#12 Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 I don't believe that he and the Falcons are are "looking for a fresh start"......that's just Wyche making a story out of nothing. Wyche needs to provide some kind of source or quote from Ridley himself..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK_EaglesFan89 Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 I'd absolutely take Ridley. There are probably better options out there that are likely to hit FA but Ridley would be a really good option for this team. I think he'd be a nice complementary player opposite Smith. But what's the price? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspiritfall Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 I mean if worrying about him missing time due to his mental health issues is a non issue id do a 2nd round pick without blinking a first though? Wouldn't do it... He is worth a first based on talent and age though just wouldn't gamble on him with his issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspiritfall Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Dillard and Reagor for Ridley do it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2rock Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 11 hours ago, Aspiritfall said: I mean if worrying about him missing time due to his mental health issues is a non issue id do a 2nd round pick without blinking a first though? Wouldn't do it... He is worth a first based on talent and age though just wouldn't gamble on him with his issues I liked Ridley quite a bit in that 2018 class and would have been find using a 1st rd pick on him then. I would not, however, consider a 1st for him now. One of the biggest benefits of using a high pick on a player (on any player, really) is that they are locked in for 4-5 years on reasonable rookie contracts. Ridley is at the end of that rookie contract so that benefit is no longer applicable. I'd still be wary of using a 2nd to acquire him too. I would be more hopeful to send Atlanta a 3rd along with a future pick (2023 3rd? ... a conditional 2023?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK_EaglesFan89 Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 1 hour ago, time2rock said: I liked Ridley quite a bit in that 2018 class and would have been find using a 1st rd pick on him then. I would not, however, consider a 1st for him now. One of the biggest benefits of using a high pick on a player (on any player, really) is that they are locked in for 4-5 years on reasonable rookie contracts. Ridley is at the end of that rookie contract so that benefit is no longer applicable. I'd still be wary of using a 2nd to acquire him too. I would be more hopeful to send Atlanta a 3rd along with a future pick (2023 3rd? ... a conditional 2023?). I'd agree, a couple of third round picks or a third and a couple of fourths. I'd be tempted by a second round pick but not sold on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspiritfall Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 2 hours ago, time2rock said: I liked Ridley quite a bit in that 2018 class and would have been find using a 1st rd pick on him then. I would not, however, consider a 1st for him now. One of the biggest benefits of using a high pick on a player (on any player, really) is that they are locked in for 4-5 years on reasonable rookie contracts. Ridley is at the end of that rookie contract so that benefit is no longer applicable. I'd still be wary of using a 2nd to acquire him too. I would be more hopeful to send Atlanta a 3rd along with a future pick (2023 3rd? ... a conditional 2023?). I don't disagree I just mean based on his talent and age I would give up a first for him if he didn't have issues... Even not being on his rookie contract I would... He's talented and would try to sign him to a deal... Besides a first for him even with issues is still better than any of the first round wrs we've taken over the last few years with the exception of Smith... Right now no I wouldn't do a first... A 2nd? Yeah to me a 2 is worth the gamble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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