2021 NFL Draft: Could Falcons make Julio Jones trade?
The Atlanta Falcons hold the No. 4 overall pick on Thursday in the 2021 NFL Draft, but could they move Julio Jones in a stunner?
Everyone figures the Atlanta Falcons will either trade down or draft Florida tight end Kyle Pitts with their first-round pick on Thursday night. Perhaps they will, and it won’t be the headliner of their evening.
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In a story that has been picking up considerable traction this week, word is going out about Atlanta potentially looking to trade future Hall of Fame receiver Julio Jones in an effort to clear future cap space. On Tuesday, first-year general manager Terry Fontenot told reporters that he felt obligated to listen to any offer, even regarding Jones, considering the situation the team is in from a financial standpoint. Per ESPN:
“That’s one of those things when you’re doing things the right way in an organization, you have to listen if people call, on any player,” Fontenot told Fox 5. “Especially, we are in a difficult cap situation, that’s just the circumstance and it’s not a surprise for us. We knew the circumstance we were in. Our administration has done an excellent job up to this point getting us in a position to be able to manage the cap, and yet we still have more work to do.
“So when teams call about any players then we have to listen and we have to weigh it and we have to determine what’s best for the organization and we have to handle everything with class.”
So if Jones were to hit the market, what could he bring back?
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The seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro played in nine games last year, logging 51 catches for 771 yards and three touchdowns. However, Jones only missed four total games over the previous six campaigns, showcasing remarkable durability.
At 32 years old, Jones is due for $23 million this year with cap hits of $19.2 million in each of the following two years. However, the dead money in 2023 is only $7.75 million. It’s a large deal, but if a trade happens, it’ll certainly be designated for post-June 1 status, which also eases the numbers for Atlanta this year.
All told, the Falcons could certainly get a second-round choice and perhaps a late first with some extra capital tacked on if there’s enough of a bidding war. The hardest part will be finding a team who believes it’s close to winning while also being able to fit Jones’ deal under the cap.
Ultimately, the Jones saga might play out well after the draft, but it certainly makes for an intriguing subplot to Thursday’s action.
