NEWSLETTER
Riley Ridley came to Chicago with great expectations.
Well, great expectations considering he was a fourth-round pick. Ridley, who played his college ball at Georgia and is the younger brother of sensational Falcons receiver Calvin, had a unique prospect pedigree and was believed to have tremendous upside. His pre-draft training even included tips from Hall of Famer Terrell Owens and retired long-time standout Chad Ochocinco.
But Riley Ridley’s career with the Bears never took off. And now, he’ll be looking to latch on elsewhere:
The #Bears are releasing Riley Ridley, former 4th round pick and Calvin’s younger brother, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2021
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport tweets the Bears are releasing Riley Ridley, which spares him from being waiver wire fodder. Remember, a release allows players to sign on with the team of their choice. Meanwhile, placing a player on waivers runs them through tomorrow’s waiver process. It’s a small distinction that is pretty significant for the players it impacts.
Ridley, 25, finishes his Bears career with 10 catches, 108 yards, and a grand total of 149 offensive snaps played in 10 games over two seasons. And with minimal special teams experience (17 snaps), I can see where it was tough to squeeze Ridley onto the roster. That Ridley didn’t make the cut is likely good news for Rodney Adams, a fifth-round pick by the Vikings in 2017 who has splashed throughout training camp and preseason.
Adams’ presence won’t diminish the disappointment that comes with releasing a fourth-rounder before Year 3 of his professional career. This is a miss for the Bears’ scouting and development departments. But maybe Adams could soften the blow if he can make positive contributions. And that’s assuming he is the beneficiary of Ridley’s release. With that in mind, we’ll keep our eyes open as cuts continue to roll in.
