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Falcons exercise 5th-year option on Calvin Ridley

With the 2021 NFL draft in the rear view, the future of the Falcons is starting to take shape. Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith clearly said they have no plans to rebuild this team. That is reassuring to some fans, as the team will not have the cap space to be active enough to rebuild in free agency until 2023. While there is still uncertainty surrounding Julio Jones, the Falcons will clearly look to keep his counterpart Calvin Ridley.

Ridley, the team’s first-round pick in 2018, has been an electric complement and consistent red-zone option. In Julio’s absence in 2020, Ridley nearly hit 1,400 receiving yards and was one short of another double-digit touchdown season, proving that he can be the lead option in your passing game.