When the Tennessee Titans announced they had signed wide receiver Calvin Ridley in free agency on March 13, the transaction came as a surprise. Reports indicated the bidding for the former Alabama standout’s services had narrowed to his 2023 team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New England Patriots.

On Tuesday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said his team didn’t lose the Ridley sweepstakes because of money.

“We pursued people we wanted in free agency,” Kraft said while attending the NFL’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. “There was one outstanding receiver that unfortunately we couldn’t close. It was not because of finance. It was clearly his girlfriend wanted to be in the South, and we had a situation where the taxes were, like, almost 10 percent higher. We offered and were willing to keep going to add that premium, but he didn’t want to be in the Northeast. And part of it might be the quarterback situation as well.”

Ridley is married with two daughters. His wife is from Huntsville.

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A Florida native, Ridley has played for the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville in the NFL after leaving the Crimson Tide as a first-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.

After trading Ridley’s former Alabama teammate Mac Jones to the Jaguars this offseason, New England has Bailey Zappe at quarterback. Zappe started the final six games of the 2023 season after the Patriots benched Jones.

New England also holds the third pick in the NFL Draft on April 25, and Kraft said he hopes New England adds a top, young quarterback this offseason.

Ridley joined Tennessee for a four-year, $92 million contract that included $50 million in guaranteed money.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.