Will the Addition of Calvin Ridley Be Enough for an Elite Jaguars Offense in 2023?

The Jaguars Receiving Corps Will Undoubtedly Be Improved Going Forward

The Jaguars are rightly focused on the rest of this unwritten season, but we also like being future focused and consider what this team will look like in the future. There is little to no doubt in my mind that Calvin Ridley is going to immediately become the top receiving target in Jacksonville. During his last full season, Ridley was arguably the most explosive player in the entire NFL at the receiver position and also possessed some of the best route running skills in the league. In his short 2021 stint, Calvin Ridley still looked every part of an elite receiving option before stepping away from the NFL.

The effective change that will take place to the Jaguars' receiving corps will be the replacement of Marvin Jones Jr. with Calvin Ridley which is undoubtedly a huge improvement for the offense. Simply put, the two players are incomparable since Ridley is a fantastic full-time starting option while Jones Jr. is a great safety valve in the redzone. As of now, I'm actually on board to keep Marvin Jones Jr. but I think that he needs to transition to a part-time role on the offense as a possession receiver in the redzone. If you're able to negotiate a team-friendly deal, you essentially keep a player who is arguably Trevor Lawrence's top option when throwing for six.

The Big Needs Are Filled, Now The Jaguars Need The Enhancements

For those who don't know who the player above is, it's Quez Watkins. He was a sixth round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason and although he's not lighting up the league, he's a very dynamic piece on the offense. Watkins was known in college as being a burner, someone who could take the top off the defense, and this season he's been able to do that and haul in three touchdowns. I believe that the Jaguars need to be searching for a similar style of weapon. Jacksonville already has three starting-caliber receivers heading into 2023, two of those arguably being some of the best at their role. Like mentioned before, if Calvin Ridley is able to return at any level near what he was playing before he'll immediately be considered one of the best outside receivers in the NFL and Christian Kirk has quickly become a top-end slot receiver in Doug Pederson's offense. With Zay Jones just having a massive breakout game against Baltimore, it's clear that the Jaguars already know the three players who will see the field the most.

As of now, the only other notable receiver slated to return is Jamal Agnew who has been able to fill in well at the slot position and develop as a solid receiver in Jacksonville. Marvin Jones Jr. is currently slated to be a free agent and if he was to return he would fill the role of a possession receiver as mentioned before. I think for the Jaguars receiving corps to be properly rounded out(not including the tight end position), there needs to be an elite speed threat added to the offense. This could come in two forms, first through free agency or second through the draft. Mecole Hardman would be a likely option if the Jaguars had the cap room to negotiate a contract with him and would immediately provide them with the speed threat they need. However, I think the most cost-effective and logical way to fill this need would be to address it in the draft. Jalin Hyatt would be the first name to come to mind, but he may go too early for the Jaguars to consider him.

Jaguars Shouldn't Rule Out Drafting A Top Receiver If Available

While the Jaguars receiving corps will likely ascend to the top third of the league in 2023, the Jaguars shouldn't rule out drafting a top receiver if one falls to them. There are three reasons that I see for this. First of all, the Jaguars aren't locked into starting Zay Jones for years to come and could improve at that position. I don't believe it's necessary to upgrade there, but drafting someone like Quentin Johnston would still be a big upgrade at the receiver position. The Jaguars, perhaps for the first time ever, would have three high-end receivers on their offense.

The second reason, and honestly a much weaker one, is that the Jaguars are arguably not locked into any of their receivers past the next season. Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, if somehow they flamed out in Duval, would offer huge cap savings and Calvin Ridley is only on a one-year contract coming off of a long break from football. I don't expect any of these players to be gone after 2023, but drafting a top end receiver could offer the Jaguars some cap saving options and a contingency plan for the future.

The final and perhaps most enticing reason for drafting one of these players is because it would undoubtedly lay the foundation for the Jacksonville Jaguars to become an offensive juggernaut for years to come. Jacksonville would have great players at every offensive position except for tight end and spots on the offensive line, which have both had an acceptable level of play this season. If Trevor Lawrence is for real, the Jaguars would be thrown into the conversation of which team has the best offense in the NFL. As exciting as this may sound, I wouldn't expect the Jaguars to be in a position to draft the best available receiver. Too many teams were selecting receivers at premiums in the last draft, and if that trend continues, Jacksonville would need a lot to fall their way for someone to be available at their pick.

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