Why Atlanta Falcons won’t end up trading away Julio Jones this year

The Atlanta Falcons would reportedly “like to trade” star WR Julio Jones, according to the latest reports surfacing from NFL insiders and that has fans thinking it’s turning into a done deal right before our eyes.

CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin shared in his article that the Falcons are considering trading Jones for a variety of reasons and he referenced the report from The Athletic’s Jeff Schultz that Jones has been on the trade market since Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith came to Atlanta.

"“For a combination of reasons including Atlanta’s precarious salary cap situation, Jones’ advancing age, and the Falcons’ own acknowledgment that they’re in more of a rebuilding phase than a contending one, Schultz reports that “Jones’ availability on the trade market has been clear almost from the time new general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith landed in Atlanta and realized the extent of the team’s salary cap problems.”"

Why the Atlanta Falcons won’t end up trading away Julio Jones, at least not this year

Jones is set to make $15.3 million this year followed by $11.51 million during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. A team that is going to trade for him this offseason is going to have to have the cap space to pay him at least the next two years.

If they’re giving up that much cap space- especially for an aging star who will be 34 years old when his contract expires- you’ve got to imagine that the price they’re willing to pay is probably much lower than what the Atlanta Falcons would be asking.

If the Falcons could get a first-rounder for Jones, they’d be interested, but is the franchise really going to give up one of the best wide receivers in the league for a second-round pick? Which, by the way, is what most media organizations have being offered for him.

Yes, he’s aging. But he also averaged 15.1 yards per catch last season and is still one of the best in the league.

In the end, I’m convinced the Falcons will find more value in having Jones on the roster for at least one more season and looking to trade him after 2021 than they’ll find in trading him away for draft capital that will be a gambling token at best.