NFL Draft 2018: Calvin Ridley could form scary duo with Julio Jones

Although Julio Jones may be on the move, there’s a chance he could team up with Calvin Ridley to strike fear into opponents in 2018.

Am I a fan of drafting best available? You bet. That’s why I loved the Falcons decision to draft Alabama’s Calvin Ridley at No. 26 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, surpassing some other needs.

The Falcons have an All-Pro receiver already in Julio Jones, but Ridley was regarded as the No. 1 receiver in this year’s draft by many experts and he dropped into their laps late in the first round.

What’s not to love about Ridley? He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs in at 189 pounds. He’s not the biggest guy on the field, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in athleticism. In fact, he ran a blazing 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and that’s something that had scouts drooling.

The potential to excel with Matt Ryan as his quarterback and Julio Jones on the opposite side of the field is immense. Those two receivers already could form one of the deadliest duos in all of football despite the rumors swirling about Jones’ future with the organization in doubt.

Next: Complete 7-round 2018 NFL Mock Draft

Overall, this is a great selection by the Falcons, whether or not they decide to trade Jones. The rookie wide out could be one of the best players in this class and he definitely has that big-play ability which makes him a constant threat. Imagine having defensive backs try to cover a duo of Jones and Ridley next season.

Grade: A-