Best Bets on Calvin Ridley and Jaguars after Reinstatement

• Calvin Ridley has been reinstated following his year-long suspension for betting on the NFL.
• Calvin Ridley’s statements following his reinstatement make bets on the new Jacksonville Jaguar to win Comeback Player of the Year the best bet of the offseason.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Calvin Ridley is back after serving his one-year suspension for betting on the NFL, with the former Alabama standout now eligible to suit up for his new team, the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Calvin Ridley’s Suspension

When Calvin Ridley was originally suspended last year, the NFL stated that he would serve a year-long suspension at minimum for violating the league’s anti-gambling policy.

Ridley was suspended for betting on the NFL while he was injured and battling through mental health issues last season.

The former Second-Team All-Pro stated that he had not initially meant to bet on the NFL, but as his NBA parlay card grew, he decided to add the Atlanta Falcons to his card in order to support his teammates.

Calvin Ridley details his suspension with The Players Tribune, with one particular line standing out regarding his choice to bet on the NFL:

“Whenever people ask, ‘What were you thinking?’ The only answer I can give is, ‘I wasn’t.’”

How Does Calvin Ridley Affect the Jacksonville Jaguar’s Odds?

Legal sports betting sites have responded to Calvin Ridley’s reinstatement by making the Jacksonville Jaguars the outright favorite in the AFC South and by offering the shortest odds on Ridley, Trevor Lawrence, and company to win the AFC Championship and Super Bowl with the shortest odds for the Jaguars since 2019.

Jacksonville Jaguars Futures Odds

• AFC South Title: -175
• AFC Champion: +1600
• Super Bowl Winner: +2800

Adding Calvin Ridley to a young Jacksonville Jaguars core that made it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs last season makes all of those odds intriguing for players.

What may be a better bet is on Ridley himself to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year, although NFL betting sites have yet to release those odds.

Ridley would be a strong Comeback Player of the Year bet based on his talent and because of the season he expects to have:

“Right now, I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt — mentally and physically. On the field, I’m flying. Believe me, I’m flying. That GPS band don’t lie. On my daughter’s name, if I’m healthy? With Trevor Lawrence? I’m giving Jacksonville 1,400 yards a season, period.”

If Calvin Ridley has a 1,400-yard season for the Jacksonville Jaguars next season like he says will, then bettors and the Jacksonville Jaguars should be able to score a big win.