Titans restructure Calvin Ridley's deal, keeping the veteran receiver for 2026 amid a struggling receiving corps.
Well, it looks like the Tennessee Titans are keeping receiver Calvin Ridley after all.
It seemed like it was a guarantee that Ridley would either be traded or released by the franchise. He has underperformed relative to the money the team was paying him. The Titans initially signed him to a four-year, $92 million deal.
Trading or releasing him before June 1 would've saved the Titans over $10 million either way. (Via Over The Cap)
Instead, Tennessee is sticking with Ridley on a restructured deal, as reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Ridley was due a $2 million bonus if he was still on the roster by Saturday at 4 p.m.
The Titans' 2026 receiver room will now consist of Ridley, Wan'Dale Robinson, Chimere Dike, and Elic Ayomanor, to name a few.
Ridley was a part of the questionable free-agent contracts that former General Manager Ran Carthon handed out in 2024. The Titans also brought in Lloyd Cushenberry, L'Jarius Sneed and Tony Pollard during that offseason.
Out of those players, only Ridley and Pollard are still on the Titans roster. Cushenberry and Sneed have both been released by the team.
After his college career ended at Alabama, Ridley was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. He spent four seasons there and sat out for one of them after he was banned for the 2022 season due to his violation of the NFL's gambling policy.
Ridley was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in November of 2022. After sitting out the remainder of the season, he was finally reinstated in 2023. He would go on to revive his career after finishing with 1,016 receiving yards and eight touchdowns that season.
However, he didn't receive another contract from the franchise and was signed by the Titans in free agency. With Mason Rudolph and Will Levis both starting at quarterback during different points in the season, Ridley was still able to finish with over 1,000 receiving yards in 2024.
After watching how Levis and Rudolph played, Titans fans know that's no easy feat.
His production took a steep drop in 2025, with Cam Ward throwing to him. Ridley played in seven games before suffering a season-ending fibula injury. He finished with 303 receiving yards.
Even before the injury, Ridley was inconsistent. The one in the season opener versus the Denver Broncos stands out. Ridley had plenty of space to make a catch and get a first down late in the fourth quarter with the Titans down 20-12, and couldn't hold on.
Either way, the Titans are giving Ridley another chance in a receiver room that desperately needs him to step up in 2026. We'll see if Ridley can turn things around in 2026 when healthy.