5 Players Who Could Be The New England Patriots WR1 in 2022

4. Calvin Ridley, Falcons

Here’s where we get into the intrigue of trades and free agency. Calvin Ridley has been a stud for the Falcons, but stepped away from the game in 2021 to work on himself. The hope is he can return to league once all is well, but there’s a chance a change of scenery could work out best for Ridley.

The Falcons are a team trending toward working on a rebuild, while the Patriots are firmly a contender. It’s possible Atlanta wants to move Ridley for a pick or two to help further jump-start a rebuild at the skill positions and on defense, not to mention help out their cap situation. The New England Patriots would be a great trade partner here.

The Patriots wouldn’t need to clear any room for Ridley, who only carries an $11 million base salary for 2022. Plus, as long as Ridley is ready to return, you’re getting an explosive playmaker who can thrive in the offense. His release game is among the best in the NFL, and his explosion and burst make for a great separator at the break point as well as down the field. As it was with Wilson, don’t let size dictate what he is. Ridley can be a WR1.