Despite the Kyle Pitts selection giving the Falcons the chance to pair him with Julio Jones and emerging standout Calvin Ridley, the team’s cap situation may be at a point where this trio will never take the field together. The Jones trade buzz is not going away.
Jones remains available, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Schultz, who notes the Falcons would like to trade the future Hall of Fame wideout (subscription required). Although the 32-year-old wideout made the Pro Bowl each season from 2014-19 and missed four total games during that span, he is signed to a receiver-record contract and missed seven games in 2020. New GM Terry Fontenot confirmed the Falcons are listening to offers on their all-time great.
[RELATED: Julio Jones Drawing Trade Interest]
The Falcons have made a number of restructures this offseason — from Deion Jones to Jake Matthews to Matt Ryan, with Schultz adding the team did not want to restructure its quarterback’s deal — but still have less than $500K in cap space. Atlanta obviously needs to sign its draft class, and although losing Jones for that purpose would mark a sobering conclusion to his Falcons run, the team views only he and Grady Jarrett as candidates to fix its cap problem, Schultz adds. The Falcons, however, want to keep Jarrett long-term; 10 years may be it for Jones in Atlanta.
The Thomas Dimitroff regime gave Jones his $22MM-per-year extension during the same summer Jarrett received his payday. Jarrett has two seasons left on his deal; Jones has three. A Jones restructure is not out of the question, but that would mean the Falcons moving a lot of money into Jones’ age-33 season and beyond. Atlanta, per Schultz, does not want to go this route, one that would involve considerably more dead money down the line. It is a non-starter for the Falcons to move Jones before June 1, but were they to trade him after that date, they would create more than $15MM in cap space.
Numerous teams could use Jones, but most would need to carve out cap space to absorb his $15.3MM salary. Some expect teams to ask the Falcons to eat a portion of Jones’ salary to help facilitate a trade, per Schultz, who also notes the Titans have come up as a potential suitor. Tennessee has a noticeable hole at receiver opposite A.J. Brown, with Corey Davis heading to New York, but the team has barely $3MM in cap space before its top draft salaries are accounted for. A first-round pick is not expected in a Jones deal, though Ian Rapoport of NFL.com would not expect Fontenot to move Jones unless a strong offer emerges (video link via the Pat McAfee Show).
Losing Jones would certainly affect the Falcons, who can count the seven-time Pro Bowler as a top-three player (comfortably) in franchise history. From 2014-19, Jones amassed 9,388 receiving yards — the most in a six-season span in NFL annals. But the Falcons’ new regime does not appear to view 2021 as a season in which Super Bowl contention is realistic, Schultz notes. Atlanta hopes to benefit from a bidding war involving teams that do.
at this point they should be dealing Ryan too
He’s really not the problem. It’s the Falcons defense.
It’s the salary cap that’s the problem
if they are dealing Julio then they should just rebuild
Why would a team take Kyle Pitts with the 4th over all pick and start a rebuild? Way too much draft capital and cap space that could have been dealt with by now if it was a rebuild.
Falcons fan here and huge Julio fan….Julio has not made a big difference the last 2.5 seasons unfortunately. He’s been a ‘decoy’ multiple games. TD should’ve never gave him that extension and Blank saying ‘Falcon for life’ definitely didn’t help I’m sure
Over the last three seasons, he’s averaged 6.5 catches a game, good for 105 per 16-game season. What are you even talking about. A decoy? He’s been a legit #1 receiver.
He’s played hurt a lot. Some games he’s the decoy. When he’s healthy, he’s the #1
“He’s not really the problem.” – Falcons enabler of another five years of mediocre play
Chiefs’ 2022 2nd rounder for Julio Jones. Make it happen Coach Reid.
The Chiefs’ 2022 2nd rounder is basically an early 3rd round pick, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Except it’s not… it’s basically a late 2nd round pick, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Actually, it’s definitely at least a late 2nd round pick regardless of any circumstances.
You read bro?
2022 2nd and 4th.
Keep dreaming!
Jones is one of the best WRs we’ll ever see. Send him somewhere where he can get the ring he deserves.
Patriots trade a 2021 2nd and JoeJuan Williams for Jones who says no?
Atlanta would say no as they probably don’t want a pick in a draft that already happened
Belichick always trying to cheat. Smh
Why in the world would he want to go to one of the worst QB rooms in the NFL and a team that has no shot of winning a title?
No one can take on that contract this offseason. They’ll have to eat some of it which they prob don’t want to do.
Jets can afford the co tract easy. We’ll give you a 4th and a 5th. You can pick the years.
Or just extend him with some voidable years you cap idiots.
GB should tell Aaron Rodgers that we’ll get Julio Jones if you just shut up and play.
As a Packers fan, I wouldn’t be opposed to it, but the packers ‘22 cap situation looks even worse than their ‘21 cap.. and they’ve still got to extend Jaire Alexander and a younger better version of Julio in Adams. This is an unrealistic potential move for the Packers.
They could flip or trade Preston Smith thats 10mil off the books right there and get #12 to get a 4 yr extension 2nd highest paid QB locked up 4 yrs up to age 41 season with a no trade clause then convert 75% of his salary into a bonus or something… Than allow him to work on Jepordy in the offseason..
No cap room to make it work…..would need Atl to take back Smith or something close and still eat some salary w a draft pick.
….but I’d love to have him and Adam’s on the field together.
Jags should get in the mix. Give Trevor another weapon.
They have cap space for it and it makes a ton of sense. Julio can still play, and he’d be a good veteran presence and mentor for a young team.
Who even has the cap space for him?
Won’t be surprised to see him go to New England
Hes going to colts or an nfc north team.
Come to Chicago Sir, it’s a smart business move.
Although it’s Julio. Teams know that ATL doesn’t have the money so unless there’s a bidding war I think a 3rd rounder and maybe a 5th will do it.
That’s too light, I think.
Gute should trade for Julio and all the haters would say he finally got Rodgers some help. Then he should trade A-Rod the week after.
Chargers. Get your young QB a receiver to pair with Allen. Send Mike Williams elsewhere.
Williams – 15.7 mill this year
Jones- 15.3 mill this year
Guarantee the Chiefs have atleast checked in on this. I don’t think they are sold they have a true number 2 receiver. This move screams Brett Veach.
Julio for Zeke who says No?
Why would anyone help KC continue to win. Much like in the NBA teams love to make trades to help LBJ.
Jags would make sense but he wants to win now. Chicago had to be in. Pace and Nagy may have bought themselves another year with drafting Fields. Bringing in Jones could keep them around longer (which Bears fans may not want). Poor Dalton gets the Mike Glennon treatment.