Why Jaguars probably won’t get a compensatory pick for Calvin Ridley

When the NFL announced compensatory draft picks earlier in March, the Jacksonville Jaguars came away with the best one. The No. 96 overall selection was awarded to the Jaguars because their former offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor signed a $20 million per year with the Kansas City Chiefs in the year prior.

On Wednesday, Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley signed an even richer, $23 million per year contract with the Tennessee Titans. But unlike the loss of Taylor, the departure of Ridley probably won’t net the Jaguars a draft pick.

Teams are awarded compensatory draft picks if they suffer net losses in free agency and the Jaguars did a lot this week. With only players on expired contracts counting in the compensatory formula, the Jaguars added:

1. WR Gabe Davis ($13 million per year)
2. S Darnell Savage Jr. ($7.25 million per year)
3. CB Ronald Darby ($4.25 million per year)
4. RS Devin Duvernay ($4.25 million per year)

While center Mitch Morse won’t count against the Jaguars because he was released by the Buffalo Bills, that’s still four additions for the team. For now, the Jaguars have only had two of their departing free agents sign elsewhere:

1. WR Calvin Ridley ($23 million per year)
2. K Brandon McManus ($3.5 million per year)

The contract for McManus is enough to cancel out one of the additions, but the loss of Ridley is currently cancelled out by the addition of Davis.

Perhaps — assuming the Jaguars sign no other players who count in the compensatory formula — they could see two or three of their other departing free agents get big enough contracts to cancel out more of their additions. But those players — which includes Jamal Agnew, Tre Herndon, and Dawuane Smoot — would likely need to get at least $3.5 million or so per year to qualify.

The likelier scenario is that the Jaguars won’t get compensated for the loss of Ridley.