NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Huge receiver Calvin Ridley is signing a four-year, $92 million contract, together with $50 million assured, with the Tennessee Titans, brokers David Mulugheta and Reza Hesam instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
Ridley joins DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks as the highest pass-catchers for second-year quarterback Will Levis.
Tennessee additionally agreed to one-year take care of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, a supply confirmed to ESPN. Rudolph’s deal is value as much as $3.62 million in line with NFL Community, which first reported the information. Rudolph will compete with third-year quarterback Malik Willis for the backup position behind Levis. The Titans have a 1-2 report in Willis’ three profession begins.
After coming back from a season-long 2022 suspension for violating the NFL’s playing coverage, Ridley caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns for the Jaguars in 2023. The season opener towards the Indianapolis Colts marked 23 months between video games for Ridley.
NFL Offseason: What You Want To Know
• Monitoring offers, cuts, trades | Key dates• Rating prime 100 free brokers (ESPN+)• Grading the largest strikes (ESPN+)• Each coach hiring | Franchise tags• NFL draft order | Prime draft prospects
He stated in January that he wished to return to the Jaguars in 2024 due to the relationships he constructed and never desirous to must be taught one other offensive system, however he wasn’t positive whether or not that may occur and that cash could be an element.
Ridley, 29, was suspended for the 2022 season after an investigation discovered that he guess on NFL video games over a five-day stretch in November 2021 whereas he was away from the Atlanta Falcons. In a collection of tweets after the suspension, Ridley admitted to bets totaling $1,500 however stated he would not have a playing downside.
Regardless of the ban, the Jaguars acquired Ridley in a commerce with the Falcons on Nov. 1, 2022 — sending a 2023 fifth-round decide and a conditional decide in 2024. Ridley was paid a assured $11.116 million in 2023 on the fifth-year possibility from the rookie deal he signed after being drafted twenty sixth total by the Falcons in 2018.
As a result of the Jaguars didn’t signal Ridley to a brand new contract after the brand new league yr started, they’ll ship a third-round decide to the Falcons to finish the phrases of the 2022 commerce that introduced Ridley to Jacksonville. Had they signed Ridley earlier than the 2023 league yr ended, they might have owed the Falcons a second-round decide.
Ridley was reinstated on March 6, 2023. Two days later, Ridley wrote in a chunk for The Gamers’ Tribune that playing on NFL video games was the “worst mistake of his life.”
He additionally stated he performed via a foot damage in 2020, bought misdiagnosed with a bone bruise, and ultimately had surgical procedure a few months earlier than coaching camp started in 2021. Ridley stated he was mentally drained from coping with the damage and likewise was coping with nervousness associated to a break-in at his dwelling, which is why he ultimately stepped away from the sport on Oct. 31, 2021, saying he wanted to “deal with my psychological wellbeing.”
Ridley had 248 catches for 3,342 yards and 28 touchdowns in 49 video games with the Falcons, together with 90 catches for 1,374 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2020.
Rudolph, in the meantime, will compete with third-year quarterback Malik Willis to again up starter Will Levis. The Titans have a 1-2 report in Willis’ three profession begins.
Chosen by the Steelers within the third spherical of the 2018 draft, Rudolph spent most of his profession in Pittsburgh as a backup earlier than serving to the Steelers to the playoffs with three begins to finish the 2023 common season.
In these video games, the Steelers’ offense averaged 27 factors per recreation and 387 yards of offense, and Rudolph threw three touchdowns and no interceptions in these regular-season begins.
Earlier than 2023, Rudolph’s first prolonged time as a beginning quarterback got here in 2019 when he took over the job following Ben Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow damage. Rudolph appeared in 10 video games that season, beginning eight and throwing 13 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. The season was a tumultuous one for Rudolph, who sustained a concussion in his first begin, was almost struck by Myles Garrett swinging Rudolph’s helmet, was benched for rookie UDFA Devlin “Duck” Hodges and ultimately ended the season on injured reserve.
However when he took over the beginning job for Kenny Pickett in 2023, teammates and coaches praised Rudolph’s maturity and dedication to placing within the work.
“I feel while you’re going via it — the whole lot from being thrown in after which getting knocked unconscious for a bit after which some adversity later within the yr in Cleveland after which being benched — I feel it is no enjoyable,” Rudolph stated in December. “It is hell whilst you’re going via it, however while you take a step again and breathe, and I am 28 years of age, I am simply ultra-thankful that it occurred. I feel the whole lot occurs for a cause, however who desires to undergo a life and haven’t any adversity and simply form of all the time win? It teaches you classes and it prepares you for all times after soccer.”
For his profession, Rudolph has thrown for 3,085 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 21 video games.
ESPN’s Michael DiRocco and Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.
