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.

[ToxSocks]

Im starting to warm up to this Julio Jones thing. The biggest hurdle seems to be the money.

But what IF the Chiefs negotiate a deal to where the Falcons are still on the hook for $5Mill of that contract, dropping our cap hit to $10M

We know Veach was willing to take a 1yr, $10M flyer on Schuster.

Julio Jones DOES fit the exact ideal mold for what we're looking for in that 2nd receiver spot.

We DO have a need there.

And his injuries last season weren't the type that linger into the following season.

[ToxSocks]

I can hear Veach right now, "Anytime you have an opportunity to trade for a Julio Jones you do it. He's a special player and we're thrilled to add him to our roster".

[AdolfOliverBush]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

I can hear Veach right now, "Anytime you have an opportunity to trade for a Julio Jones you do it. He's a special player and we're thrilled to add him to our roster".

1 year at $10 million? That's a no-brainer.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by AdolfOliverBush

1 year at $10 million? That's a no-brainer.

Other than our lack of cap space and glaring hole at DE2.

[ForeverIowan]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Im starting to warm up to this Julio Jones thing. The biggest hurdle seems to be the money.

But what IF the Chiefs negotiate a deal to where the Falcons are still on the hook for $5Mill of that contract, dropping our cap hit to $10M

We know Veach was willing to take a 1yr, $10M flyer on Schuster.

Julio Jones DOES fit the exact ideal mold for what we're looking for in that 2nd receiver spot.

We DO have a need there.

And his injuries last season weren't the type that linger into the following season.

Knew you'd come around! That is where I am at as well.

There are similarities there to us going after Trent Williams in free agency. Of course you'd prefer to go the free agent route and not have to use draft capital to address that left tackle position; however, plan A fell through. That doesn't mean Veach/Reid are going to sit on their hands for a position they clearly felt was a major need. In comes plan B using draft capital to trade for Orlando Brown Jr.

Parallel there to Trent Willians is Veach willing to spend $10 mil on JuJu. Clearly Veach and Reid think an upgrade is needed in the wide receiver room similar to left tackle. Plan A fell through in acquiring JuJu through free agency. Id personally think we'd be major players going after Julio similar to Orlando Brown Jr. Time will tell.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Other than our lack of cap space and glaring hole at DE2.

WTH else are we gonna spend that cap space on? The only DE left out there that could cost anything worth mentioning is Ingram.

Veach was already prepared to pay that $10M to Schuster.

I have to think Veach is seriously contemplating this.

[ToxSocks]

In Jones' injured, non-effective 2020 season he had 51 catches for almost 800 Yards.

That's better than anything Sammy Watkins ever gave us in the 3 years he was here.

I don't know if they'll land Julio, or if ATL will settle for a deal in which they still pay a portion of his salary (My guess is they will as they desperately need money off the books) but i bet Veach's gears are turning trying to see if he can make it work.

If they don't land Jones, w/e, no big deal. I think Hardman can fill in @ #2 just fine. But if they can add Jones and old-man babysit him like Reid has been known to do....o'buddy it's on.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by ForeverIowan

Knew you'd come around! That is where I am at as well.

There are similarities there to us going after Trent Williams in free agency. Of course you'd prefer to go the free agent route and not have to use draft capital to address that left tackle position; however, plan A fell through. That doesn't mean Veach/Reid are going to sit on their hands for a position they clearly felt was a major need. In comes plan B using draft capital to trade for Orlando Brown Jr.

Parallel there to Trent Willians is Veach willing to spend $10 mil on JuJu. Clearly Veach and Reid think an upgrade is needed in the wide receiver room similar to left tackle. Plan A fell through in acquiring JuJu through free agency. Id personally think we'd be major players going after Julio similar to Orlando Brown Jr. Time will tell.

I agree. I think Veach is a big play guy. The other day a poster said, "no one can predict what Veach will do!"

My response, and i really believe this, was something like, "Look at the best 3 players available and assume Veach is working on it".

There isn't a better player available since the early days of F/A (that the Chiefs had a realistic shot at) than Julio Jones

[UChieffyBugger]

DO IT VEACH!!. Fellas this kind of move is pretty much like KD to the warriors after they lost the finals to Lebron. It would devestate the league and this offense would be the greatest thing the NFL has ever seen...period. Too many people can't fathom the fact that we have a goat player in Pat and we cannot afford to waste these opportunities...let's fecking GO!!.

[ForeverIowan]

A+ leader, A+ locker room guy, A+ in the community. The guy wont freak out if he isn't getting the lion's share of the targets. He wants to WIN! Do your research on his health if it checks out go freaking get him!

If you are ever going to take a "gamble" why not gamble on a guy with impeccable character traits who is a top 5 WR in the history of the game and likely still has a few high level years left.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Mecca

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

Jones won't fetch higher than a 2nd. Im skeptical he fetches higher than a 3rd. I have to think that if someone was willing to offer a 2nd he'd have been traded by now.

[UChieffyBugger]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Jones won't fetch higher than a 2nd. Im skeptical he fetches higher than a 3rd. I have to think that if someone was willing to offer a 2nd he'd have been traded by now.

If we could get him with a third that would be epic because we may get a third comp pick next year if EB or one of the front office guys get taken in the off season.

[mkp785]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Jones won't fetch higher than a 2nd. Im skeptical he fetches higher than a 3rd. I have to think that if someone was willing to offer a 2nd he'd have been traded by now.

They can't do anything till after June 1st bro. It's been referenced numerous times. Cap issues with his deal.

[Reroka]

Go out and get him, It seems our OL is just fine and Jones would open hill up soo much.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by ForeverIowan

A+ leader, A+ locker room guy, A+ in the community. The guy wont freak out if he isn't getting the lion's share of the targets. He wants to WIN! Do your research on his health if it checks out go freaking get him!

If you are ever going to take a "gamble" why not gamble on a guy with impeccable character traits who is a top 5 WR in the history of the game and likely still has a few high level years left.

Yeah, hell, the less targets and receptions will likely help him a lot as far as injuries go. He'd get hit and tackled a **** of a lot less and that will go a long way into keeping him healthy.