The Chiefs were “never truly in” the Julio Jones sweepstakes, according to Peter Schrager of NFL.com (on Twitter). Like every team in the league, the Chiefs would have loved to have him, but it just didn’t make sense financially. Instead, Jones is en route to the Titans, who landed him on Sunday morning. 
[RELATED: Titans Trade For Julio Jones]
The Titans shipped a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick to the Falcons for Jones. Meanwhile, the Falcons also sent their 2023 sixth-round pick to the Titans in the swap. That’s a far cry from the Falcons’ initial ask of a first-round pick, but that was the best they could do given Jones’ age (32) and contract.
The veteran is owed a $15.3MM base salary for 2021 and still has some guaranteed dollars for 2022. That would have been tough to swing for the Chiefs, who have less than $8MM to work with heading into ’21.
Needless to say, the Chiefs are already well-set on offense with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Mecole Hardman in the fold. Jones would have been one heck of a replacement for Sammy Watkins, but it would have come at a great expense.
“If I could play alongside Julio Jones, that would be amazing,” Hill said recently (via FOX 4). “I used to be in high school when he was doing his thing at Alabama and I’ve been a fan ever since.”
The Chiefs have other plans for those dollars, including a 2022 extension for Orlando Brown. Meanwhile, Jones is said to be aiming for a new deal of his own.
The Ravens — who could have teamed Jones with Watkins — reached a similar conclusion, backing out of talks last week. Ditto for the Seahawks, who already traded their 2022 first-round pick for star safety Jamal Adams. The 49ers and Rams also had varying degrees of interest in the multiple-time Pro Bowler, but the Titans ultimately topped every other offer.
Not news to those who pay attention to the NFL rather than just their favorite team/players.
Sadness
I’m still just so confused. Multiple posters on this board ASSURED us he’d fetch at least a 1 or two 2’s.
Can’t seem to find them anywhere now though. Just wondering what happened…
Anyone who thought the Falcons couldn’t gotten a 1 or two 2s doesn’t pay attention to the context of Julios situation
I assume you meant could have?
Does anyone else think the time of year this trade was made impacted which teams were interested and the return the Falcons received? Had it been before the draft things would have ended differently? Love to get peoples thoughts…
Ignore this. Answered my own question. Atlanta saved on the cap hit.
I figured a 2nd and 4th the year after. It made since. But a second and a 3rd wouldn’t have shocked me either.
shame too, they really needed him
How does GB not go after Julio Jones unless ATL was determined to only trade him to AFC.
GB only had $5 million in cap space. While Jones is counting $23 million against the cap this year and almost $20 against the cap in 2022. No cap room.
Does anyone pay attention to cap? Yes, it’s all kind of funny money. But if the Chiefs could make it work, don’t you think the Falcons would have made the same decision?
He has a lot of money on his deal, he is coming off injury. A 2 and 4 makes a lot of sense. They(Falcons) need assets because they don’t have money and won’t for roughly two years.
Meanwhile, nice get for Tennessee. They’re still not a Super Bowl contender. The offense should be more fun with Julio over Davis and anything else they have currently not named AJ Brown. The trio of Henry, Brown and Julio should make for interesting football but, what about the defense? Is Bud Dupree going to make them better or was he a product of the scheme in Pittsburgh? Is the combination of Farley, Jenkins, Fulton better than what they had at cornerback last year? The Titans are currently in the situation the Saints were a year ago. They have one but they don’t have proven pairs. Byard, Simmons and Evans are all proven guys. But I don’t know that they have the talent collectively that makes this defense passable once the leagues best offenses step in front of them.