Who Should I Start? Kendrick Bourne or Calvin Ridley

Saturday, February 22, 12:03 PM

The Athletic's Chad Graff suggests that it could be time for the New England Patriots to move on from wide receiver Kendrick Bourne this offseason, even if he's their top player at their biggest position of need. Bourne missed the start of the 2024 season while recovering from a torn right ACL and caught only 28 passes on 38 targets for 305 yards and one touchdown in 12 games (nine starts) once he returned. With a new coaching regime in town, the Patriots could move on from Bourne, who will be heading into his age-30 season in 2025. New England would save $4.9 million in salary cap space if they cut him before June 1 or $6.3 million if they cut him with a post-June 1 designation. Bourne is under contract with the Patriots through the 2026 season, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see this rebuilding organization go in another direction as they completely rebuild their receiving corps.

Saturday, June 21, 1:32 PM

TennesseeTitans.com's Jim Wyatt writes that Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley looks really bought in in his second season with the team. Wyatt says that Ridley looks more eager to work and embrace quarterback Cam Ward and the other rookies around him. In addition, he should benefit from having more skilled players around him in 2025. The 30-year-old wideout had his second straight 1,000-yard receiving season in 2024 and the third in his career, but he went from eight touchdowns in 2023 with Jacksonville to only four in Tennessee. There might be a little more competition for targets this year, but Ridley is still the unquestioned WR1, and he could benefit from Ward being under center instead of Will Levis. Ridley has a safe floor as a WR3/flex, but how successful he is in 2025 will ultimately come down to how consistent Ward can be in his rookie season.