Julio Jones LIKELY on the Move! Best Landing Spots
This has been certainly one of the wildest off-seasons in recent memory, and it isn't even halfway over yet. We've seen so many stars moved already (mostly QBs). Franchise cornerstones such as Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, and Aaron Rodgers have been rumored to potentially be moved. Next up is Julio Jones. One of the best WRs EVER has requested a trade out of Atlanta and more than half the league is rumored to have interest already. Today we will list the best/most likely landing spots for Julio Jones and what they would give up.
Tennessee Titans
Why? The Titans seem to be the favorite thus far to land Julio Jones. First of all, they need him. They have a nice big 3 of Ryan Tannehill-Derrick Henry-AJ Brown, but aside from those 3, their offense has virtually nothing else. They have had a pretty poor off-season despite looking to make the next step up into a Super Bowl contending team. Julio could change all of that. Having AJ Brown and Jones lining up on either side would be so fun to watch and so hard to cover for opposing defenses. Add the fact that Derrick Henry is on the squad at RB, man this offense could be something. Rumors have it that Jones may end up going for only a second round pick due to his massive contract his new team would have to take on, but if a second is all it will cost for an all-time great at WR, you do it. AJ Brown among other players have publicly made their pitch for Julio to come to Tennessee. One more thing is that the Titans are in the AFC and the Falcons would rather trade him out of the conference if possible. Look for the Titans to be the favorite in landing Jones.
Baltimore Ravens
New England Patriots
Why? First of all, the Patriots have been named by Julio Jones himself as the team he wants to play for. Does that really matter in this? No. The Falcons are the ones who control Jones' fate and they will trade him to whichever team gives them the best offer. That being said, it could be the Pats. In a normal Pats year, I would say that them getting Jones is highly unlikely. The Pats are a quiet team in the off-season usually and go about their own business by signing smaller name players, drafting against popular belief, and not making trades often. But this year is different. The Pats were the league's biggest spenders in FA and then drafted a big name QB in the NFL draft round 1. Its clearly a new era in New England. I think the Pats new look squad has a fighting chance to sneak into the playoffs, but if they add Jones, I think they are definitely in. The Pats' biggest reason they struggled last year was due to a terrible receiving core and while they did a lot of spending to improve it, it still lacks that surefire no. 1 guy. Jones CAN BE THAT! The Pats should see Jones' value is cheaper than it definitely should be as they can probably get him for a second rounder. That is when Bill Belichick does his best work. Remember a so called 'aged' receiver named Randy Moss for the Patriots??
Indianapolis Colts
Why? If the Colts really are serious about Carson Wentz being their franchise QB, this trade is an absolute NO BRAINER. The Colts are probably the best equipped team of any in the league to make this trade. They have a crazy abundance of cap space that they didn't really spend much of this off-season aside from Wentz himself. One of the main reasons why Wentz struggled last year in Philly was due to a terrible receiver group. While it is a little better in Indy with TY Hilton and Michael Pittman, that is not a crazy upgrade. Hilton is aging and Pittman is still up and coming and unproven. Jones would change things drastically. He would be the team's instant WR1 and would give Carson Wentz the best target he's ever had in his career. The Colts would not have to trade much and easily have the cap space to make it work. The WR trio that the Colts would roll out with Jones in the fold would be very good and Carson Wentz would be set to succeed. This might be one of the most logical landing spots for Jones and I for one would really like to see it.
Green Bay Packers
Why? This is a squad I really think should just give the Falcons the best offer they can think of, but I don't see it happening. This move would make so much sense for Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers is clearly disgruntled and may not ever play for the team again. We don't know yet. What we do know is finally getting Rodgers another weapon to throw to would heal a lot of the wounds that the Packers have created over the years. I think Rodgers wanted a guy like Will Fuller or even an aged Antonio Brown to come to Green Bay as his WR2 and the Packers didn't budge, but if they got a guy like Julio to be the team's WR2? That would likely snap Rodgers out of his funk right away. Davante Adams and Julio Jones in the same Aaron Rodgers led offense would be lethal. The reason the Packers haven't been able to get over the hump for the last few years is because they didn't have have that second receiving threat for defenses to have to worry about. Everyone and their mother knew Davante Adams was getting the ball in key situations and it still worked. Now imagine that same idea but with Julio Jones in the fold. How does a team stop that? The Packers probably won't trade for Julio but may have the biggest need for him out of any squad.
San Fransisco 49ers
Why? The Niners roster is one of the league's best from top to bottom and they have improved a lot in this off-season to try and get them back to the level they were at when they were 10 minutes away from winning a Super Bowl just 2 seasons ago. With a top tier defense and an offense that has a stout O-line and a young QB ready to be the team's future, the only thing missing really is that WR1. They already have a top 2 TE in George Kittle who is better than many team's best WR but if they could add an All-Pro level outside threat, I don't know who is stopping this offense. The Niners have been in on all of the recent WR moves like OBJ to Cleveland and AB to the Bucs but they were never the team to come out with the guy. It could be different here. HC Kyle Shannahan was the Falcons' offensive coordinator with Julio Jones when the Falcons went to the Super Bowl. We all know what happened in that game but that is besides the point. Shannahan knows better than most just how good Julio is and if the team can get him for a second round pick, it might just be a move they can't pass on. If Julio Jones comes to this Niners offense, I seriously do not know how you stop this team. For the sake of the NFC, other teams better hope he doesn't end up in the Bay area.
Los Angeles Chargers
Why? Out of all the teams so far on this list, this might be the spot I'd like to see Julio go to the most. Myself included, many have the Chargers as a dark horse playoff/Super Bowl contender heading into this season due to the emergence of ROY winner Justin Herbert and the other talent on this team. After an off-season where the team improved vastly (especially their O-line which has gone from one of the worst in football to one of the best), adding Jones could be the absolute bow on it all. The team has Keenan Allen as it surefire stud WR1 and Mike Williams as a highly capable no. 2, but adding Jones could straight up transform this offense into one of the league's best. Justin Herbert is a gunslinger and there have been times we have seen really no one getting open for him. If you add Julio Jones to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams that will give Justin Herbert a top 5 receiving core in the league. The Chargers haven't seemed to be a team super involved with Jones as of now but we have no true idea. He could easily end up going to the Chargers. I think the Chargers strongly need to consider offering at least a second rounder to the Falcons in an attempt to give them one of the best WRs ever to play the game.
Seattle Seahawks
Why? When ESPN reported the news that the Seahawks have had real discussions with the Falcons about a potential Julio Jones trade, I couldn't believe it. While I still see Seattle is an unlikely team to make a move for Jones, I'm not ruling them out. They are always in on everything and have proven to be a hyper aggressive team in the trade market. All I can say on this possibility is wow. The Hawks would have a LITERALLY unstoppable offense if they added Jones. The team already rolls out a top 5 WR duo in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett but if Julio mf Jones was added to that. I can't even describe how good that would be. That would potentially be the best WR core in NFL HISTORY. Russell Wilson is a top 5 QB in the league and already does so well with Lockett and Metcalf that I just can't even imagine the possibilities with Jones in the fold. Apparently Jones and Wilson have also had discussions about the potential of teaming up. As a fan of offense, I do not want to get my hopes up for this deal. The Hawks could make it work as a second round pick to give up isn't that much for an all-time great. While this would be so crazy, I think it is a bit unlikely due to the Hawks already having a great WR core and bigger needs to fill. Also, the team drafted WR D'Wayne Eskridge with their top pick in this year's draft. Again, I'm not ruling them out here, but it would be insane if the Hawks actually landed Jones.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Why? The Jags are the first team on the list that are pretty much pure speculation. I haven't heard actual news that the Jags are in on him but that doesn't mean anything. Plenty of times you do not hear anything about a team in on a player and then they suddenly are traded to that team. The Jags would be another landing spot I would really like to see Julio Jones end up in. Imagine a Trevor Lawrence to Julio Jones pairing. What better way to set a generational talent at QB up for success than by giving him one of the NFL's best WRs ever?! New HC Urban Meyer has shown already that he is hyper aggressive and won't listen to anyone's ideas for how to build a team other than his own. He is an expert recruiter and goes for talent however he can get it. I know he must have interest in Jones. Finally, the Jags have a ton of cap space and could easily make it work with the money incoming. They also are stockpiled with draft picks and could probably present one of the better offers of any team.
Chicago Bears
Why? The final team on this list is probably the longest shot of any of these but I decided to add them in here. Now that the team has it's probable future at QB in Justin Fields, it can't just sit back and be satisfied. Now is when you start adding pieces so you can keep Fields content and give him a team to win with and contend for Super Bowls. The Bears are lucky to already have a top 10 WR in Allen Robinson but if they can snag Julio Jones for anything less than a first round pick, they could give Justin Fields a really good chance to succeed. Being a rookie QB is hard enough but having the aid of two top 10 receivers on either side would help him out tremendously. I doubt the Bears will be in for Jones because they are the Bears and rarely do what they are supposed to, but I think it could make a lot of sense for them to try and pair Jones with Robinson and Fields in Chi Town.
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