He is now part of the biggest surprise team in the National Football League from last season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars made the playoffs under Doug Pederson and in year two of Trevor Lawrence as a starting quarterback.
RELATED: Calvin Ridley will have a new number for the 2023 season
Jacksonville is now a franchise poised for bigger expectations in the AFC South. It added a new offensive piece in former first-round pick Calvin Ridley as a wide receiver. After serving a one-year suspension for betting on NFL games and getting traded from the Atlanta Falcons, Ridley is motivated to show everyone he remains one of the best young receivers in the league.
He played in 49 career games for the Falcons since 2018, but 2020 became his breakout season.
Ridley totaled a career-high 1,374 yards receiving with nine touchdowns on 90 receptions.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder vowed to the Jaguars he would give them a 1,400-yard receiver each year. As a South Florida native, Ridley is prepared to prove right in his words. He started raising the expectations in Jacksonville. After making the playoffs, Ridley expects this team to get to the Super Bowl. The combination of Lawrence and Ridley could make it happen in Duval.
“The expectation should be ‘Go to the Super Bowl.’ Period.” – @CalvinRidley1
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭 | 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟐: “𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬” 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲!
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) May 23, 2023
Ridley comes from the University of Alabama where the expectation is winning national championships.
RELATED: Falcons trade former Alabama WR Calvin Ridley to Jaguars
He is bringing that mindset to the Jaguars.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
