The Jacksonville Jaguars received a huge boost this week when the NFL announced that Calvin Ridley’s suspension was over.
The ex-Atlanta Falcons star was suspended for the entire 2022 season for betting on NFL games. Ahead of this year’s deadline, the Jaguars acquired Ridley from Atlanta in exchange for a 2023 fifth-rounder and a conditional fourth-rounder.
But in today’s pass-happy league, you can never have too many weapons for your quarterback. Ridley will complement 1,000-yard receiver Christian Kirk, but what if the Jaguars decide to do even more to bolster the offense?
Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon recently proposed a blockbuster deal that would see Jacksonville acquire Arizona Cardinals’ star DeAndre Hopkins for the No. 88 and No. 228 selections in this year’s draft:
“Hopkins, who turns 31 this summer, would be a luxury for the Cardinals. On the other hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars showed this past season that they can throw a wrench in the AFC playoff picture.
While quarterback Trevor Lawrence plays on his rookie deal, the Jags should be aggressive in building around him. Hopkins has two years remaining on his contract, so he wouldn’t be a long-term risk if a trade doesn’t work as hoped. Jacksonville won’t find many receivers as talented as Nuk being dangled on the market, though.”
The Cardinals are widely expected to trade the soon-to-be 31-year-old Hopkins after a disappointing four-win season. A six-game suspension and injuries limited Hopkins to nine games last season, but he still hauled in 64 receptions for 717 yards and three touchdows.
If Jacksonville were to land Hopkins, that would give quarterback Trevor Lawrence three (1) 1,000-yard receivers to throw to, along with Kirk and Ridley. Throw in serviceable tight end Evan Engram (hit with the franchise tag) and running back Travis Etienne Jr., and there’d be no shortage of playmakers for T-Law.
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Adding Hopkins could help Jacksonville close the gap with the other top clubs in the AFC. Now we wait and see if the Jaguars end up being the winner of the Nuk sweepstakes.
