FLOWERY BRANCH — Embattled and suspended Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for NFL draft compensation, just hours before the league’s 4 p.m. trading deadline Tuesday, the team announced.
Also, safety Dean Marlowe was traded to the Bills for a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Marlowe played for the Bills from 2017-20.
Right before the deadline, the Falcons picked up cornerback Rashad Fenton in a trade with the Chiefs for a conditional seventh-round pick.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s request to interview general manager Terry Fontenot about the trade deadline previously was declined by the team. An updated request after the trades was also denied. Coach Arthur Smith will address the moves in his regularly scheduled Wednesday media session.
“As our team continues its growth, we continue our daily focus on improving our roster and believe this move is the best decision to make at this time,” Fontenot said in a statement released by the team. “We appreciate Calvin’s contributions to the organization and wish him well on his next steps.”
NFL Media was first to report the Ridley trade. The Falcons are set to receive a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick. The latter could turn into a second- or third-round pick under certain conditions, including Ridley signing long term with the Jaguars.
Ridley, who left the Falcons midseason in 2021 to tend to his mental well-being, was suspended indefinitely, at least through the 2022 season, for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.
Ridley bet on NFL games last season during a five-day stretch in late November, when he was away from the team on the reserve/non-football illness list, according to the NFL.
Ridley, who was set to enter the fifth year of his contract that was to pay him $11.1 million, can apply for reinstatement Feb. 15. He has the right to appeal the suspension.
Ridley left the team Oct. 31 and said in a social media post he wanted to work on his mental well-being. He played in only five games in 2021. He did not return to the team and was placed on the non-football injured list Nov. 5.
Ridley was selected in the first round (26th overall) in the 2018 draft. He has 248 catches for 3,342 yards and 28 touchdowns over three-plus seasons.
Ridley became the fifth player in NFL history suspended for gambling.
The Jaguars apparently are fine with waiting for his suspension to be lifted.
Over his first three seasons in the NFL, Ridley’s career arc was ahead of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison.
Both of the slightly built receivers used crafty footwork and strong hands to make plays. Ridley caught 217 passes in his first three seasons to Harrison’s 196 and had more receiving yards (3,061 to 2,478).
But in 2021, Ridley’s fourth season, things went haywire.
Ridley’s story is a cautionary tale about gambling that is complicated by his departure from the team in the middle of the 2021 season to deal with mental health issues. He played in only five games, and it was discovered later that he bet on NFL games. He was suspended indefinitely March 7.
Prohibitions against betting on NFL games by players long has been the rule. The league’s fear is that if a player gambles, he’ll go into debt, be compromised and somehow be tempted to shave a game.
Marlowe signed a one-year contract with the Falcons in March. He played in all eight games and made one start, in the last game against the Panthers.
Fenton, 25, is 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds. He has played in 47 games and made 16 starts. He has two career interceptions and 20 pass breakups. The Falcons has the 32nd ranked pass defense in the league.
Fenton has been targeted 25 times and has given up 20 receptions for 270 yards, including 94 yards after the catch, according to profootballreference.com advanced defensive stats.
Quarterbacks have a 125 passer rating when throwing at Fenton, who has 24 tackles and three missed tackles for an 11.1% missed-tackle percentage.
Also, the Falcons have signed defensive lineman Amani Bledsoe to the practice squad.
For more content about the Atlanta Falcons
On Facebook at Atlanta Falcons News Now
On Instagram at DorlandoLed
Atlanta Falcons coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Bow Tie Chronicles
Atlanta Falcons 2022 schedule
Sept. 11: Saints 27, Falcons 26
Sept. 18: Rams 31, Falcons 27
Sept. 25 Falcons 27, Seahawks 23
Oct. 2 Falcons 23, Browns 20
Oct. 9 Buccaneers 21, Falcons 15
Oct. 16 Falcons 28, 49ers 14
Oct. 23 Bengals 35, Falcons 17
Oct. 30 Falcons 37, Panthers 34 OT
Nov. 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m.
Nov. 10 at Carolina, 8:15 p.m.
Nov. 20 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Washington, 1 p.m.
Dec. 4 vs. Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
BYE WEEK
Dec. 18 at New Orleans, TBD
Dec. 24 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Jan. 1 vs. Arizona, 1 p.m.
Jan. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, TBD
About the Author
