Ridley joins Titans for $92M
Receiver’s move from division rival a surprise as free agency opens
Receiver Calvin Ridley is heading to the Tennessee Titans, the highlight of the official start of free agency Wednesday when teams began reshaping their rosters in a quest to unseat the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Ridley, who had been expected to re-sign with the Jaguars, and the Titans agreed on a four-year, $92million (U.S.) contract with $50 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the terms told The Associated Press.
Ridley gives young Titans quarterback Will Levis another playmaker. He started all 17 games for the Jaguars last season, finishing with 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns, after missing most of the previous two years because of a broken foot, a mental health break and a yearlong gambling suspension.
The Titans also added a veteran quarterback, agreeing with Mason Rudolph on a one-year contract, another person familiar with the decision told the AP. And the Washington Commanders continued rebuilding their defence by luring sixtime Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner from Seattle.
Many of the top available free agents — including quarterback Kirk Cousins and running backs Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry — agreed to deals during the twoday negotiating period leading up to the start of the league’s new year.
The Houston Texans continued their remarkably rapid rise from cellar to stellar by luring perennial Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter from the Vikings to play opposite defensive rookie of the year Will Anderson on Houston’s line. Hunter, who had a career-best 16⁄ sacks last year, agreed to a twoyear, $49-million contract with all but $1 million guaranteed.
And, after losing the AFC championship at home to the Chiefs, Baltimore made a splash in free agency by luring Henry away from the Titans. He will be running behind a reworked offensive line, as the Ravens agreed to trade tackle Morgan Moses and a fourth-round draft pick to the Jets on Wednesday for New York’s pick earlier in the fourth round and a sixth-round selection. Baltimore had already lost guard John Simpson to the Jets in free agency.
The champions didn’t stand pat during the free agency frenzy this week as general manager Brett Veach once again bucked the timehonoured trend of champions losing core veterans to other teams. Veach kept all-pro defensive tackle Chris Jones with a five-year, $158.7million contract, backup linebacker Drue Tranquill signed a three-year, $19-million deal, and defensive tackle Mike Pennel returned on a one-year deal. Also, Patrick Mahomes agreed to restructure his contract to free up salary cap space.
Washington’s Wagner, who turns 34 this summer, led the NFL with 183 tackles last season. He becomes the centrepiece of the Commanders defence under Dan Quinn and is another player the new coach is plenty familiar with. Wagner played two seasons for Quinn with the Seahawks in 2013-14.
Signing Wagner is one of many changes Washington’s new general manager Adam Peters made after going into free agency with the most salary cap space in the league. Also coming are running back Austin Ekeler, veteran backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, tight end Zach Ertz and several others.