The recent hot streak from white-hot quarterback Drake Maye has put the New England Patriots in a position to be buyers at the NFL trade deadline, specifically as it pertains to getting Maye some extra help in the wide receiver room following a host of injuries.
As the Patriots try to work through an injury to Stefon Diggs, their advantageous financial situation may put them in a position to possibly bring in a more expensive player. As such, the Tennessee Titans may have a possible starter who could make the trip up north.
The Titans were reportedly going to shop wide receiver Calvin Ridley, which makes sense for a one-win team that is getting torched almost every single week. However, any thoughts of the Patriots making this Ridley trade have been swiftly brought to an end by a source close to Tennessee.
Turron Davenport, ESPN's Titans beat reporter, said that Tennessee is not currently fielding any offers for Ridley despite some reports to the contrary. Ridley may have been the best playmaker on the market at the receiver position (within reason), but he isn't going anywhere.
Patriots likely won't be able to trade for Titans WR Calvin Ridley
Ridley, who is in the second year of a four-year, $92 million contract, has just 16 catches for 290 yards and no touchdowns on the season. However, those numbers are being hurt by a rookie quarterback in Cam Ward, a fired head coach in Brian Callahan who was over his skis, and minimal playmaking talent outside of him.
Even as the Patriots work their way back to full health due to injury sustained by Diggs and breakout star Kayshon Boutte, Ridley would likely not need to show much to force his way into the WR2 role. Ridley's contract ensured that he and Diggs would have teamed to give Maye two high-end options throughout the rest of his rookie deal.
Tennessee, however, might not be too keen on the idea of trading away one of the few weapons they have around Ward, especially a player of Ridley's caliber. His contract demands are steep, which could eventually eat into the return the Titans could get from a team like the Patriots.
New England is clearly in the market for some skill position talent, and the Titans are as motivated a seller as one will find in the NFL right now, but this particular line of inquiry doesn't seem to be going anywhere.