What could the Falcons get in a Calvin Ridley trade?

The Atlanta Falcons expected a lot out of Calvin Ridley this year, he was supposed to be the driving force of the offense, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it has been a disappointing year.

Ridley will be entering the final year of his rookie deal and is set to make $11 million no matter what happens. The only way the Falcons can avoid paying that amount is if they trade him to another team, in which case they would be on the hook for nothing.

What could the Atlanta Falcons get in return for Calvin Ridley?

This is a tricky question that no one knows the answer to, but it is still worth evaluating what Atlanta could possibly get in return for their superstar wide receiver.

There are numerous factors you have to take into account when predicting what a team can reasonably demand for a certain player. Things like age, their contract, their recent production, and many other things have a direct impact on what the player can be exchanged for.

We all know what Calvin can do when he is on the field, he has the ability to be a number one receiver if he learns how to handle physicality more consistently. Every team in the league could benefit from having Ridley, there is no doubt about it.

His contract is also very reasonable for the one year he has left. $11 million for one of the top pass catchers in the league is a steal. His contract is the last of the worries for any team that could be interested in him.

Now comes the question mark when it comes to Ridley, his availability. No one knows what the future holds for him, he has missed most of the year as he tries to get his mind in the right place, any team interested in him would have to be 100% sure that he is going to play next year. That comes down to the teams and Calvin Ridley, no way to know what the answer is to that but it definitely does affect his value.

Now, what could he be worth?

Of course, everyone wants to start off the trade talks with a first-round pick, but in all likelihood, they would probably never get that for him. With how easily teams have been able to find top receivers in the draft, the value of veterans has dramatically decreased.

Where the more likely target is, is a second-round pick and possibly a little bit more. Much like was with Julio Jones, there are question marks surrounding Ridley. Perhaps if there were not, they could finesse a team out of a first-round pick but as of right now, a second-rounder seems much more reasonable.

So, would it be worth it? The short answer is yes. The Falcons are probably not considering a new contract for Ridley right now, so why not get some cap relief and a couple draft picks for a player you are likely to lose after the next season?

It is very difficult to predict these things, after all, Julio Jones was traded for the same thing that Mohammed Sanu was.

Each year, value changes for players, so there is no way to know for sure what Atlanta could get for Ridley.