The New York Giants are running out of time — both literally and figuratively — to decide who they want to be in 2025. At 2-5, they’re on the outside of the NFC playoff picture looking all the way in, but the competitive fight and spark are clearly there. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has played well enough to warrant help, and the offense still needs someone to step up and replace what Malik Nabers was giving them before the ACL tear.
Enter Calvin Ridley.
The Tennessee Titans are 1-6 and have already fired head coach Brian Callahan, signaling an all-out teardown could be on the way. And with Ridley’s contract, age, and usage all raising eyebrows, the 30-year-old might be the perfect trade deadline target for a Big Blue front office walking a fine line between development and contention.
Calvin Ridley emerges as a potential midseason spark for Giants
Ridley’s production hasn’t exactly popped this year — just 16 catches for 290 yards and no touchdowns — but he’s still a proven 1,000-yard receiver who’d be an instant upgrade in the G-Men’s receiver room.
That group has been relying heavily on Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Jalin Hyatt, and Beaux Collins in Nabers’ absence. Far cry from an ideal room for their rookie sensation.
The connection to head coach Brian Daboll is there, too. Daboll was Ridley’s offensive coordinator back at Alabama in 2017, and that familiarity could fast-track any adjustment period in New York. Dabs' system is historically difficult to master. With a Day 3 pick potentially enough to get a deal done, it’s the kind of calculated risk that could benefit Dart’s development now and down the line.
Ridley comes with a hefty price tag — a $14.1 million cap hit this season and $21.8 million in 2026 — but only $3 million is guaranteed next year. He also comes with a controversial past — suspended for the 2022 season after getting caught gambling on NFL games (including Atlanta Falcons games while on the team). If the G-Men like what they see, there’s room to keep him around. If not, it’s a glorified rental that helps their 22-year-old signal-caller.
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It’s far from a lock, but as the trade deadline nears, Ridley’s name is one to at least keep tabs on. And with the Philadelphia Eagles up next, any kind of help would go a long way.