Piece by: kyle sramek
It has been floated around the league that Julio Jones or Matt Ryan would be moved before the start of the regular season due to their current cap crunch. Matt Ryan was on the block, but with the market flush with other quarterbacks out there and the large amount of money he was due, it never materialized. He ended up with a restructured deal to get the Falcons under the cap, but just barely.
That meant that Jones would be more likely to be gone before the season. That was somewhat confirmed when he said he wants out and had previously asked to be traded out of Atalante before the NFL draft. This was all shown on live television with host Shannon Sharpe via a phone call. The legality of that conversation is still up in the air, but one thing is for sure. Jones has no desire to remain with the team in 2021. If the Falcons were to cut him, it would put them back to where they were prior to draft in being over the cap. Atlanta could keep him on the team and fine him if he decides to not to report for training camp this season per the CBA that was signed recently. I do not see that happening as Julio has given them so many great seasons of excellent production and their owner, Arthur Black, has a reputation for being accommodating to his players and other team personnel. That leaves them with only one option moving forward. Trade Jones to another team. Only question now, where will he end up playing in the 2021 season?
Prior to the draft, it was reported that the Falcons were asking for a 1st round pick in exchange for the WR. No one was willing to give that for a 32 year old player even for one of Jones’s caliber. DeAndre Hopkins was traded from the Texans to the Cardinals for a second and fourth round pick along with RB David Johnson who was coming off a serious knee injury. Hopkins is undoubtedly a premier WR and only warranted that in exchange for his services. Granted, this occurred during the former head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien was with the team and he was known for not making the soundest of offseason moves. Jones is in the same category as Hopkins and so should need a similar package to acquire the player.
The Falcons have since reduced their asking price and have multiple teams interested in trading for Jones. They have a couple of desires for a trade to occur, however. They would prefer to not only to trade him out of their division, but out of their conference altogether. Now this is not a requisite, but they would need a significantly bigger package to entice them to go against that wish. Jones, at his age and lack of postseason success, would absolutely love to go to a team that is a contender for the Super Bowl this season. So, let us examine potential destinations for the wide receiver. Some teams will not be considered on this list for sheer lack of cap space or flexibility to make this deal happen. These includes Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and the Tennessee Titans for instance.
New England Patriots
This one makes a lot of sense. The Patriots and Bill Belichick have made a big splash in the 2021 offseason so far. They spent over $150 million this offseason on free agents already in an effort to get back to their former success in the postseason. That along with the emergence of the Buffalo Bills and the fact that former quarterback Tom Brady won a Super Bowl down in Tampa this past season makes them hungry for success. Belichick is not interested in a rebuild at this age and wants to win now. They need a premier wide receiver as they did when they had Randy Moss in the past. Jones would absolutely be that guy for them. Look at what getting Stefon Diggs did for the Bills last season and the development of quarterback Josh Allen. They currently are $3 million shy this year to take on Jones’ cap hit of just over $23 million for this upcoming season. This could be resolved by releasing a player or two, restricting a current player’s contract on the roster, or Jones restricting his own deal to make this happen. It fits both of the two sides desires. Jones and the Falcons trade the WR out of the conference to a contender and the Patriots instantly become the favorites in AFC east if not the conference as well.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts also make a lot of sense. They too are a Super Bowl contending AFC team in the need of a great WR for this upcoming season and would have to do about the same as the Patriots to obtain Jones as well as stay under the cap. Jones would pair well with longtime Colt T.Y. Hilton and give him a little more space to get open with him on the field. He could also help recently acquired quarterback Carson Wentz as he looks to return to his MVP form as he was back in Philadelphia. Adding Jones to the already stacked Colts’ offense would make them even better than thy are now. The only reason this may not work out is because of the cost it will require to sign guard Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard to extensions.
San Francisco 49ers
The reunion of head coach Kyle Shanahan and Jones would seem like an ideal fit for the two individuals. They could recreate the magic of when Shanahan was in Atlanta as the offensive coordinator and the wide receiver when they went all the way to the Super Bowl, but unfortunately lost. Putting Jones in an offense that is even more loaded with talent than they had back then would be amazing to see. However, this is very unlikely. The 49ers are over the cap currently, and they are in the same conference as Atlanta. Meaning it would take a minor miracle and a major payload for this exchange to occur.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are absolutely contenders as they won it all last year and are returning all of their key players this season. Not to mention they have a pretty good QB in Tom Brady. Not sure if you have heard of him, but he is a decent player in the league right now. Pairing him with the likes of wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, and tight ends Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate would be a formidable receiving corps for any defenses to face. They, however, have the same issues as the 49ers, but worse. The Falcons and Bucs are in the same division and I have a feeling they do not want to face their former pass catcher twice a year. Evans has been reported to be willing to restructure his contract and I am sure he would not be the only one feeling the same way to get such a great player. It would take an even bigger deal to acquire him than San Francisco.
Arizona Cardinals
This one could be interesting as well. The Cardinals have emerged as a surprise contender after signing J.J. Watt after his release. Beside him, they are a good team as well. Imagine an offense that includes wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, Kristian Kirk, and of course do not forget about the dynamic quarterback Kyler Murray at the helm of that system. With Kyler still on his rookie deal, it fits the trend of Super Bowl winners in that the teams that do win it all have a quarterback making less than $30 million a year to build a better team around them They too would have to create around $10 million in cap space to make the trade happen. If this move were to happen, it would likely mean that the ageless Larry Fitzgerald would not be able to return as he is currently a free agent.
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers not being at mini-camp absolutely has the Packers’ front office worried, especially after the rough offseason they had during this last year. Want him back reporting to camp? Make the trade for Jones to entice the current MVP to do so. This would give him a great player to pair with wide receiver Davante Adams, arguably the most underrated player in the league. This would remedy the issues he has with the organization and their unwillingness to surround him with any tangible weapons other than Adams and running back Aaron Jones. This would go a long way in mending the fracture between Rodgers and the Packers.
Dallas Cowboys
Let us be honest with each other for a second. The only reasons we are even listing the Cowboys here is because we saw Jones wearing a Dallas hoodie the other day and because it is America’s Team. That tends to push the needle a little bit. It would be fun, however, to see what quarterback Dak Prescott could do with wide receivers Amari Cooper, Ceedee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and running back Ezekiel Elliot could do together.