Fansided

The Cowboys are going to deeply regret passing on Calvin Ridley

By Matt Verderame

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Calvin Ridley #18 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates a touchdown catch during the first half against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Calvin Ridley #18 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates a touchdown catch during the first half against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Cowboys are struggling to get any production from their wide receivers, made worse because they somehow passed on Calvin Ridley at the draft.

Calvin Ridley is going to be (and basically already is) really damn good for the Atlanta Falcons. Through the first quarter of the NFL season, Ridley has exploded onto the scene with five touchdown receptions, leading the league in that category.

Incredibly, the Dallas Cowboys, who have four touchdowns through the air as a team, passed on Ridley in the first round despite obvious need to take Leighton Vander Esch. Nothing against Vander Esch, who made his first career start on Sunday in lieu of the injured Sean Lee, but that could well be a mistake of epic proportions.

Through four games, Ridley appears to be one of the upcoming, young and bright stars in the NFL. After becoming a stud for the Alabama Crimson Tide, the two-time National Champion is now starring in a supporting role alongside Julio Jones, giving Atlanta one o the best combinations in the game.

With Dallas, Ridley would have been the unquestioned leader of the receivers. While he would have drawn the top corner each week with the Cowboys, he also would have given third-year quarterback somewhere to throw outside of Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley and Geoff Swaim. That’s no way to live.

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In fact, Dallas was able to beat the Detroit Lions, 26-24, but the leader receiver was Ezekiel Elliott on four catches for 88 yards. Beasley, who entered the game as the Cowboys’ receiving leader with 132 yards, caught only four balls for 53 yards.

Meanwhile, Ridley was torching the Cincinnati Bengals in his shootout down south, helping Atlanta survive what has been a deluge of injuries to the defense including Deion Jones, Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal.

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