The Tennessee Titans did not trade wide receiver Calvin Ridley prior to Tuesday's deadline. The Titans made one deal in the 24 hours leading up to the deadline, trading Dre'Mont Jones to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2026 conditional fifth-round pick. Ridley was long rumored to be among the available veterans.
It's not necessarily surprising that Ridley wasn't traded. He's on a bloated $92 million contract. Adding insult to literal injury, Ridley is currently dealing with a hamstring ailment that has sidelined him for multiple games.
A Ridley trade ultimately did not materialize. Titans GM Mike Borgonzi must now navigate the difficulties Ridley's contract poses while also having him return to the lineup following the Week 10 bye. The Titans officially have a problem on their hands.
Titans face a brutal Calvin Ridley decision after failing to move him at the NFL trade deadline
Borgonzi inherited Ridley from previous GM Ran Carthon. The Titans would have needed to eat a significant portion of Ridley's remaining salary to help make a trade take shape. It wasn't to be.
Ridley could be an offseason cap casualty. Releasing the former Alabama Crimson Tide wideout would create $13.7 million in cap savings, with $13 million in dead money, per Over The Cap. If Borgonzi designates a Ridley release as a Post-June decision, the financial savings increase to $18.7 million while minimizing the penalty to $8 million.
The Titans also need to ensure that Ridley's eventual return to the lineup doesn't stunt the growth of rookie pass catchers Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike. Ayomanor was performing well when Ridley was healthy, but Dike has really emerged since the Titans' No. 1 receiver went down.
The Titans must now navigate through the awkwardness of Ridley's return. Confirmed reports indicate the Titans were willing to trade their overpriced receiver. Ridley will remain in Nashville through the duration of the 2025 campaign, but he's not guaranteed anything beyond that.