Wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Titans HC reveals surprising way team signed star WR

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 3/25/24

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley told reporters recently that he was hoping to stay with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. Titans head coach Brian Callahan said Monday that Ridley may not have been the team's priority target in free agency either.

How did the Titans land Calvin Ridley? Brian Callahan revealed the truth behind the acquisition: "Truthfully, we had two or three other targets that were out there that we had allocated some money for that ended up going to other places, and all of a sudden, we had more to offer.…
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 25, 2024

Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal wrote that the New England Patriots made an "aggressive offer" to sign the 29-year-old wideout but were beat out by Tennessee.

Ridley ended up signing a four-year, $92M contract to team up with five-time Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins as quarterback Will Levis' top aerial weapons.

The Titans also saw two-time rushing champion Derrick Henry depart for the Baltimore Ravens but replaced the 30-year-old with 2022 Pro Bowl running back Tony Pollard.

Ridley finished his lone season with the Jaguars by leading the team in receiving yards (1,016) and touchdowns (eight) while placing second in targets (136) and receptions (76).

Hopkins was Tennessee's leading receiver last year in a host of notable categories including targets (137), receptions (75), receiving yards (1,057) and receiving touchdowns (seven). Nuk's receiving yardage and touchdown totals were more than double any other players on the team, while he had 60 more targets and 21 more catches than the next-closest option.

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