The Tennessee Titans have acquired several difference-makers this offseason. General manager Ran Carthon added an instant-starter at left tackle when he drafted J.C. Latham from Alabama. Carthon made another splash when he executed a blockbuster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback L'Jarius Sneed. As big of an impact as those two players are expected to make, it's arguably wide receiver Calvin Ridley that was Tennessee's biggest offseason addition.
Head coach Brian Callahan was used to overseeing an offense in Cincinnati that utilized multiple receivers that can defeat one-versus-one coverage. That was the idea behind signing Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract in free agency. Ridley joins the Titans after playing for their AFC South division rival Jacksonville Jaguars last season. Callahan recently made an appearance on The Adam Schefter Podcast, where he admitted that signing Ridley away from Jacksonville made acquiring him that much sweeter.
"Had Calvin's career trajectory stayed on and he didn't get the suspension that he had, I think he probably would have found some of this a little bit sooner than he has maybe," Callahan told Schefter. "I believe in everything he's about. He's a pro's pro and he has real talent. He's one of the better route runners I've been around. He's very sudden, very fast and explosive. On top of it, he's a great personality. To have him here, to go steal him from a division rival certainly makes it a little sweeter in that regard. I love having Calvin. I think he's really going to help us."
Titans HC Brian Callahan on Tennesse’s new WR Calvin Ridley: “I believe in everything he’s about; he’s a pro’s pro…..to be able to steal him from a division rival makes it a little sweeter.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 12, 2024
🎧 https://t.co/U4krWvOKUL pic.twitter.com/pmKNfjzkE4
Ridley looked terrific throughout his participation at OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He hit the ground running in a familiar offense seeing that Callahan's offensive coordinator Nick Holz was Ridley's passing game coordinator with the Jaguars last season. The Titans are going to live in 11 personnel (three receiver sets) more often than not this season with Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, and Tyler Boyd.
Ridley accumulated 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He served as Trevor Lawrence's No. 1 receiver, but there's another level for him to unlock after Jacksonville's offense failed to consistently meet expectations due to several injury-and-performance-related issues.
Don't be surprised if Ridley produces 1,200-plus receiving yards as Will Levis' go-to receiver. Coach Callahan has obviously been extremely impressed with him. A career-best season is potentially on the horizon for Ridley. Jacksonville's front-row seat to his success will make it that much sweeter.