Calvin Ridley Lands With Titans Who Use Unbeatable 1-2 Punch To Outbid Others

The surprise is that Calvin Ridley is going to the Tennessee Titans in what is the biggest contract agreement since the start of the NFL's new league year. 

Ridley will get a reported $92 million on a four-year deal with the Titans. And that $23 million per year will position Ridley as the NFL's ninth-highest paid receiver on an annual average basis.

Ridley, you should know, had been negotiating with the New England Patriots since Monday when the free agency negotiating window opened. He had previously been talking with the Jaguars, for whom he played in 2023. 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Calvin Ridley of the Jacksonville Jaguars in action during the first half of a game against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium on December 31, 2023. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)

Patriots And Jaguars Wanted Ridley

And, by most reported accounts, the decision for Ridley was to sign with either the Jaguars or Patriots.

Then Titans general manager Ran Carthon got a say in the matter.

The Titans need receivers. What do you expect after they traded A.J. Brown away a couple of years ago and haven't seen Treylon Burks develop into a consistent star? 

But here's the intrigue: The Jaguars were offering Ridley less money per season than the Patriots, according to a league source. The reasons for that are that the Jaguars understood Ridley is from Florida (Fort Lauderdale to be precise). And Ridley and his camp understand Florida has no state income tax.

Massachusetts, meanwhile, has a flat five percent state income tax but starting in 2023 also has a four percent surtax for people making over $1 million per year. So Ridley would have been paying nine percent state income tax as well as federal income tax to play for the Patriots.

So, yes, the Jaguars were offering less but basically giving Ridley the same, if not a bit more money, in his pocket after taxes.

And then the Titans chimed in.

TAMPA - Calvin Ridley of the Jacksonville Jaguars avoids a tackle from Dee Delaney of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 24, 2023. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Titans Use Cap and Taxes To Advantage

They offered Ridley more than both the Jaguars and Patriots.

And there is no state income tax in Tennessee.

The 1-2 punch.

The Titans could afford to deliver the blow because they have more salary cap space at the start of the league year than just about any other team – an estimated $65.9 million, according to overthecap.com. And the Titans operate in a good 'ol no income tax state.

So the Titans land a two-time 1,000-yard receiver who has averaged more than 13 yards per catch three times in his five seasons.

Will Levis will likely become a better quarterback with Ridley on the team.

The Titans are becoming a better team, in part, because their state constitution sets no state income tax.