NFL Analyst has positive, yet surprising take on Calvin Ridley's future with the Titans for 2026 NFL season

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) talks with Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll during OTAs at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, June 8, 2026. Syndication: The Tennessean The Tennessee Titans veteran receiver took a pay cut and is sandwiched on the roster, but Calvin Ridley is getting some flowers from this NFL analyst.

The Tennessee Titans have what feels like an endless amount of new faces in the building for the 2026 NFL season. There’s one face many thought wouldn’t return, but did, in veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley.Ridley, who signed a four year, $92 million deal as the prized free agent in the spring of 2024, is back on a significant pay cut with the new look Titans.

The 31 year old dropped his 2026 salary by $8.75 million to stay with Tennessee to make $13 million this season, most of which is fully guaranteed. It was considered a good move by both sides, because Ridley would have made less on the open market, the Titans saved over $11 million in cap space and get to keep the high end, yet volatile pass catcher around as a veteran presence.

National NFL Analyst Marcus Whitman agrees that it was a good move to keep Ridley around for young QB Cam Ward, and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.NFL Analyst sees Calvin Ridley in better role for Titans in 2026Whitman recently published his “Tennessee Titans Deep Dive” on his popular YouTube channel That Franchise Guy, where he had some solid and interesting opinions on Ridley’s situation. “(Ridley) was a cut candidate heading into the offseason.

They decided to stand by him, and I’m honestly, I’m really glad they did,” Whitman said.Whitman likes the way his role will adjust in Daboll’s offense with Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate added to the receiver room, compared to being the focal point of the passing game. In his two Titans seasons Ridley has been up and down, to say the least.

2024 saw the Alabama product cross the 1,000 yard receiving season mark for a thi