Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has finally signed his rookie contract, according to a tweet sent out by SportsTrusts Advisors:
.@CalvinRidley1 has agreed to terms with the @AtlantaFalcons. #LegendsLiveHere #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/8OkxdRHa7t
— SportsTrust Advisors (@_SportsTrust) July 4, 2018
Ridley, 22, was the Falcons’ No. 26 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the second receiver taken after D.J. Moore. He played three years at Alabama, recording 224 catches for 2,781 yards and 19 touchdowns. According to Spotrac, Ridley is projected to earn $10.9 million over his four-year deal.
The rookie is expected to come in and become a primary receiving option right away for quarterback Matt Ryan behind superstar Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu. The Falcons currently have a very young receiving corps that features seven other incoming first-year players. Apart from Jones and Sanu, Justin Hardy is the only other receiver on the roster with any sort of experience.
Ridley has already made a good first impression on his new team this offseason. Teammate Ricardo Allen has proclaimed that he’s “the real deal” and has been impressed with his maturity and overall demeanor. Head coach Dan Quinn has also liked what he’s seen with Ridley, who has been ahead of the curve this offseason thanks in part to his time at Alabama.
Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian is very familiar with Ridley after he coached him for one season at Tuscaloosa in 2016. Ridley possesses some impressive speed, which will be key after the Falcons lost their speedy big-play threat in Taylor Gabriel this offseason. However, the Falcons supposedly plan to use him in numerous ways in his rookie year.
That may be a lot of responsibility to put on a rookie receiver. But based on the early reviews, it seems as if Ridley might just be capable of doing whatever the Falcons need from him.
Follow Us
Subscribe