Falcons taking calls on Julio Jones

[Dante84]

A hamstring injury limited Jones to just nine games last season, though he still put up strong numbers when he was on the field. He caught 51 passes for 771 yards and three scores as the Falcons finished the year 4-12. From 2014-19, Jones missed only four games and averaged 104 catches and 1,564 yards per season. SI Link.

The #Falcons have received calls from teams inquiring about possible trades for All-Pro WR Julio Jones, sources say. A trade could not happen for cap reasons before June 1, but teams know Atlanta’s brutal cap situation and are calling. A deal won’t happen now, but later? Maybe.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2021

From NFL Now: The #Falcons have been receiving calls on All-Pro WR Julio Jones, and while it's somewhat unlikely they get the value they would want, it's not impossible. A look at how it would work... pic.twitter.com/kZArO6t578

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2021

The #Falcons have been listening to trade offers for star WR Julio Jones, per @peter_king and @AlbertBreer. Atlanta has one of the worst cap situations in the league and trading Julio effective after June 1st would create $15M in cap space and save the big dead cap hit for 2022.

— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) April 26, 2021

From Peter King:

Surprises? Keep an eye on Atlanta. I can’t predict any bombshells. But a few things would not surprise me. Most notably, the Falcons putting the framework of a trade together for star wideout Julio Jones, and making the trade effective June 2. That way, Atlanta could split Jones’ cap charge between 2021 and 2022 instead of getting bashed with it all this year. So if such a trade happens, I expect it could involve a future pick or picks, nothing this year. (A future second-round pick as compensation seems fair to me.) Because such a trade wouldn’t be official till June, no picks in this draft could be involved. As for the interested team or teams, I would guess Las Vegas; Jon Gruden couldn’t resist Antonio Brown, and I doubt he could resist Julio Jones. New England too, and a couple of teams with clear receiver needs—Tennessee and Baltimore.

Now, the Falcons don’t really want to trade Julio Jones. He’s a franchise legend. But he’s 32, entering his 11th season, coming off a banged-up year with seven games missed due to injury, and the Falcons are in cap jail. If they could off-load his money and cushion it by splitting it between this year ($7.75 million) and next ($15.5 million), Atlanta’s cap charge on Jones this year goes down by a tad more than $15 million.

One final note here, to be very clear: I am not reporting the Falcons will trade Jones, or will probably trade Jones. I am saying it would not surprise me if it happened.

[ForeverIowan]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Why does everyone want to save an old wide receiver who will be paid way too much this year?

seriously?

Because he's not old. He's 32. Again, go look at the year-by-year breakdown of a lot of the all time greats. Literally nearly all of them had career years around 32 and 33. Moss, Carter, Fitzgerald, Harrison, Owens, Rice.

[MahomesMagic]

We are in an arms race with Tampa.

If Julio is the checkmate piece in Veach's mind do it.

[Mecca]

It'd make the offense unstoppable, but is it worth allocating the money and picks for it.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

At this point- everyone knows his cost- you don't have to keep copy and pasting it every other post.

Julio, Reek, Kelce, Hardman, Clyde out of the backfield- it would be the greatest offense in the history of the NFL. Will it happen- probably not- but it's fun to think about.

If either Reek or Kelce go down for a while, it keeps the offense with a solid #1 and #2 option. If no one goes down? Yeah. Greatest all time is in reach.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Can't afford $20M a year so it's moot.

It’s all about beating TB in the SB.

It’s basically a 3 year, 35m deal with 15m guaranteed to make our offense completely unstoppable.

I understand your concerns with his lower leg injuries over the years. He’s had a lot of little nagging injuries over time. They add up and the concern can’t be ignored or downplayed.

For the last 6 years (with last year being the only exception) he’s had 1400-1900 yards each year. Constant weapon that DEMANDS a bracket. That, also can’t be ignored or downplayed.

The upside is worth the gamble.

With him, we likely win every game and dominate the Super Bowl.

Historic type season.

[Mecca]

I seem too recall us sending a HOF player to Atlanta so he had a shot at a ring, maybe it's their time to return that favor.

[ForeverIowan]

Originally Posted by BossChief

It’s all about beating TB in the SB.

It’s basically a 3 year, 35m deal with 15m guaranteed to make our offense completely unstoppable.

I understand your concerns with his lower leg injuries over the years. He’s had a lot of little nagging injuries over time. They add up and the concern can’t be ignored or downplayed.

For the last 6 years (with last year being the only exception) he’s had 1400-1900 yards each year. Constant weapon that DEMANDS a bracket. That, also can’t be ignored or downplayed.

With him, we likely win every game and dominate the Super Bowl.

Historic type season.

Legendary type of 2-3 season run possible. Give the Falcons our 2022 first rounder and figure out the cap and lets roll! Rolling Bradys bitch ass in the Super Bowl next year alone would be worth it.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BossChief

It’s all about beating TB in the SB.

You're assuming that Tampa Bay will make it back to the Super Bowl, which is certainly far from guaranteed.

Most of the guys on that team had never played beyond 16 games in their entire lives. Now, they'll need to play 20 games at minimum and that's after playing 20 games last season.

Those extra games take a toll on a person's body, as we saw last year with the Chiefs, who have played more games in the past three seasons than any other football team.

On top of that, there isn't a chance in hell that Brady could survive behind Tampa's 4th string left guard, right guard, right tackle and backup left tackle and he may not survive if the Bucs have any injuries to their offensive line this season.

I know a lot of people are basically penciling in the Bucs for Super Bowl 56 but the real odds, not the Vegas odds, are against it.

[BossChief]

Also, he’s old and has a limited trade market due to cap concerns to complete a trade.

Send a 2nd and get a 5th back or something and let’s roll!!

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You're assuming that Tampa Bay will make it back to the Super Bowl, which is certainly far from guaranteed.

Most of the guys on that team had never played beyond 16 games in their entire lives. Now, they'll need to play 20 games at minimum and that's after playing 20 games last season.

Those extra games take a toll on a person's body, as we saw last year with the Chiefs, who have played more games in the past three seasons than any other football team.

On top of that, there isn't a chance in hell that Brady could survive behind Tampa's 4th string left guard, right guard, right tackle and backup left tackle and he may not survive if the Bucs have any injuries to their offensive line this season.

I know a lot of people are basically penciling in the Bucs for Super Bowl 56 but the real odds, not the Vegas odds, are against it.

If we were to add Julio, there isn’t a defense in history that could keep us under 30.

[comochiefsfan]

Originally Posted by ForeverIowan

Legendary type of 2-3 season run possible. Give the Falcons our 2022 first rounder and figure out the cap and lets roll! Rolling Bradys bitch ass in the Super Bowl next year alone would be worth it.

It's highly doubtful he would even cost a first rounder.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BossChief

If we were to add Julio, there isn’t a defense in history that could keep us under 30.

There is no guarantee that Julio Jones could even play 8 games this season, let alone, 20.

The guy is on the downside of his career. If the Falcons were to trade him for a 4th or a 5th and he'd reduce his salary to around $5 million with incentives, it might be worth a shot.

But there's no way the Chiefs should give up a 1st rounder and $35 million for a guy for wheels have already begun to fall off.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BossChief

If we were to add Julio, there isn’t a defense in history that could keep us under 30.

There is no guarantee that Julio Jones could even play 8 games this season, let alone, 20.

The guy is on the downside of his career. If the Falcons were to trade him for a 4th or a 5th and he'd reduce his salary to around $5 million with incentives, it might be worth a shot.

But there's no way the Chiefs should give up a 1st rounder and $35 million for a guy for wheels have already begun to fall off.

[Eureka]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You're assuming that Tampa Bay will make it back to the Super Bowl, which is certainly far from guaranteed.

Most of the guys on that team had never played beyond 16 games in their entire lives. Now, they'll need to play 20 games at minimum and that's after playing 20 games last season.

Those extra games take a toll on a person's body, as we saw last year with the Chiefs, who have played more games in the past three seasons than any other football team.

On top of that, there isn't a chance in hell that Brady could survive behind Tampa's 4th string left guard, right guard, right tackle and backup left tackle and he may not survive if the Bucs have any injuries to their offensive line this season.

I know a lot of people are basically penciling in the Bucs for Super Bowl 56 but the real odds, not the Vegas odds, are against it.

Tom Brady in the SB is a bad bet. I mean look at the past 5-6 SB and anyone will say that Tom Brady is a far reach to make it to the big game. The "real odds" are against it.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You're assuming that Tampa Bay will make it back to the Super Bowl, which is certainly far from guaranteed.

Most of the guys on that team had never played beyond 16 games in their entire lives. Now, they'll need to play 20 games at minimum and that's after playing 20 games last season.

Those extra games take a toll on a person's body, as we saw last year with the Chiefs, who have played more games in the past three seasons than any other football team.

On top of that, there isn't a chance in hell that Brady could survive behind Tampa's 4th string left guard, right guard, right tackle and backup left tackle and he may not survive if the Bucs have any injuries to their offensive line this season.

I know a lot of people are basically penciling in the Bucs for Super Bowl 56 but the real odds, not the Vegas odds, are against it.

^ This. I think people forget just how banged up KC was along with how surprisingly healthy TB was in that SB. Made a huge difference as the talent gap was nowhere near what the score indicated.

[BWillie]

If we get a healthy Julio Jones, there is like a 85% chance we win the Super Bowl barring a Kelce, Mahomes, Hill injury.