Report: Atlanta Falcons Hope Julio Jones Extension Is In ‘Near Future’

Julio Jones is the best player on the Atlanta Falcons’ roster, but he is set to hit free agency after the 2015 NFL season. I wrote last week that Jones’ deal should be a priority, and reports suggest it could happen soon.

Per D. Orlando Ledbetter of AJC.com, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff is hoping they will have a new deal worked out in the near future:

“That’s where we’ll continue to focus right now,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “He’s an important part of making sure that we get things accomplished in the relatively near future.”

While there is a sense of urgency, the Falcons do have some time to make the deal. He won’t hit free agency until March 2016, and even then they will be able to use the franchise tag to maintain his services.

As Ledbetter writes, Dimitroff didn’t have an exact time in mind:

"When pressed for a timetable, Dimitroff was vague. However, it’s reasonable to conclude that the Falcons would like to have a deal done before training camp starts in late July from his “relatively near future” remark."

The Falcons would be smart to get it done sooner rather than later. If Jones has another strong season, his value is only going to rise, and he will have leverage to command more money as it moves closer to the expiry of his deal.

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Just ask the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos.

Both clubs were forced to use the franchise tag, on Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas respectively, which not only hits them with a hefty salary cap hit, but also means they are once again in a race against time as the deal only lasts one year.

The Packers also made life difficult for themselves with Randall Cobb. His value skyrocketed after he completed a career-best season in 2014. They managed to strike a deal just a couple of days before he became a free agent, but the cost would have been considerably less if they had managed to extend his deal the summer prior.

The tricky part is determining the market value for a player like Jones. The Cowboys and Broncos are yet to reach a long-term deal with Bryant or Thomas, and we also await what the Bengals will offer A.J. Green, who is set for an extension.

Gaging the market value is important, but the longer Jones’ status remains unclear, the more money it could potentially cost down the line.

The Atlanta Falcons’ arrow is pointing up, but they need to get this deal done.

Next: How will the Falcons' running back depth chart look in 2015?