Julio Jones on the move? May be. With the 2021 NFL Draft nearing and a dire situation looming on the horizon, the Atlanta Falcons appear to be listening attentively to offers and interest for some of the team’s biggest stars.
This likely includes Hall of Fame recipient Julio Jones, who will make more than $ 15 million this year and raise $ 23 million for Atlanta’s payroll.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Julio Jones wasn’t able to officially close a trade until June 1 or after, but it doesn’t stop rampant speculation that one of the cornerstones of the franchise may have downplayed its final for the Dirty Birds.
The #Falcons I’ve received calls from teams asking about possible trades for All-Pro WR Julio Jones. A trade could not take place before June 1st due to cap reasons, but the teams know the brutal cap situation in Atlanta and call. A deal won’t happen now, but later? May be.
– Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2021
If Jones is actually about to be in the shuffle, Where does a trade make the most sense?
Julio Jones Landing Sites: Los Angeles Chargers
In fact, by the next season, the chargers have already used up more than 16% of their cap space by elite recipients in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and rightly so. This seems to stamp out Julio Jones. Allen, who funnily turned 29 on April 27, caught 100 passes for 992 yards and eight touchdowns last season – his fourth year in a row with more than 95 catches. Williams, meanwhile, added 756 yards and five touchdowns on 48 catches and is just two seasons away from leading the league in yards per catch (4/20/2019).
But Los Angeles has several reasons to act for someone like Julio Jones from Atlanta.
First and foremost, sophomore quarterback and 2020 NFL offensive player Justin Herbert would love nothing more than another all-pro wideout in his arsenal to attack a division that already includes Kansas City and Travis’ Tyreek Hill Kelce from Las Vegas in Las Vegas. Darren Waller and Henry Ruggs III and Denver’s Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. The need for speed against the rivals is ruefully evident, and a third wideout will only help Herbert in so many ways. It will expand against opposing secondaries and give him room to run. Julio Jones will be opening hurried and receiving lanes for a fitting pass like Austin Disgust.
Second, the chargers simply have the space for such detection. Before the 2021 NFL Draft, Los Angeles is around $ 14.5 million in space – fourth best in the league behind the Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals. Julio Jones’ cap hit for 2021 is currently $ 23.05 million. So it wouldn’t be easy to find $ 9 million in equity, but it’s definitely, definitely manageable.
Jacksonville Jaguars
All indications suggest that first-year coach Urban Meyer and his Jaguars front office picked Clemson’s Casanova quarterback Trevor Lawrence with number 1 in the 2021 NFL draft later this week. Fans openly courted his arrival for months and the ownership structure has left little mystery as to what they’re up to in relation to her the elite talent.
After officially tying the knot with longtime girlfriend Marissa Mowry during a private weekend ceremony on April 11th in Bluffton, South Carolina, there was no better wedding gift from Jacksonville’s Brass than making Lawrence an elite in Atlanta’s Julio Jones .
Sure, signing former Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions star Marvin Jones to a two-year off-season deal was a good start to rebuilding that offense. And fourth year pro DJ Chark is a nice destination just two years away from a 1,000 yard season.
But Julio Jones would absolutely change the dynamic in Duval County, Florida. Running backs James Robinson and Carlos Hyde would like the extra space in the middle of the field to operate, and Lawrence would have a safe target for short, medium and deep throws, as well as a jump ball scenario.
Julio Jones in particular can afford Jacksonville as the Jaguars have a cap space of $ 16.75 million. And the last time a 12,000 yard receiver played for JAX, it started pretty good;; All thanks to Jimmy Smith.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cap room? Check. Young talented quarterback in need of another elite receiver? Check. Place on the list for a savvy veteran who can change a culture? Double check discount.
The Cincinnati Bengals wouldn’t screw up if they chose to trade for Julio Jones of Atlanta. Not only does the club currently have more than $ 16 million in cap space for the 2021 NFL draft, it also has an electric young guns beacon to salvage star Joe Burrow, who has 13 touchdowns and more than 2,600 Yards had only thrown five interceptions in 10 games before a quadruple blow (ACL / MCL torn; PCL and meniscus damaged) against the Washington Football team. Burrow is likely to be named Rookie of the Year if the injury is fixed, but all signs suggest he is ready for the 2021 campaign.
The departure of longtime AJ Green locker room to the Arizona Cardinals leaves more talent for young talent at Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, but it does mean another veteran-like presence like Julio Jones wouldn’t hurt the team. in addition, Tyler Dragon from the Cincinnati Enquirer According to reports, the Bengals are most likely to choose LSU-wide recipient Ja’Marr Chase or Oregon Offensive Tackle Penei Sewell number 5 in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Chase would be an incredible offensive addition, but Sewell is the smart and safe choice to protect a franchise quarterback for years to come. Take Sewell, and the Bengals could set their cap when it comes to trading for Julio Jones.
The Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens All of them reached last season’s playoffs and, to be honest, didn’t improve until the 2021 off-season. Julio Jones could put Cincinnati firmly in the mix.
San Francisco 49ers
Let’s get weird, okay?
From a Cap Space perspective, a move for Julio Jones of Atlanta San Francisco actually helps when the right parts are in business. The 49ers are currently more than $ 4 million over the 2021 cap and will have to shed a little to avoid the luxury tax.
But how was John Lynch’s franchise supposed to do that? By turning reigning quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo over for Julio Jones, possibly in a one-on-one deal.
It’s a move that would allow 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan to instantly transfer the quarterbacking reins to a 2021 draftsman like Trey Lance of North Dakota, Mac Jones of Alabama, or Justin Fields of Ohio veteran Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel for a potentially explosive crime with Julio Jones.
It’s also a move related to Julio Jones, who gives the Hawks an immediate heir for their longtime quarterback Matt “Matty Ice” Ryan and allows them to formulate various needs earlier this week. Atlanta would likely remain a little financially troubled due to Garoppolo’s remaining contract numbers, largely due to Ryan’s contract which owed him more than $ 26.9 million in 2021.
But once thought to be immobile late February 2021Ryan could be ready for a fresh start if his longtime security blanket becomes part of a business decision.
