If a Julio Jones trade happens, which NFL teams should make a deal with the Falcons?
From the moment that Julio Jones joined the Atlanta Falcons as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Alabama, he’s been one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Jones has not only never been below 1,000 receiving yards in a season in which he’s played at least 15 games, he’s not had fewer than 1,190 in any of those seasons (7).
But the Falcons are set to undergo massive changes in the 2021 offseason. As the organization searches for a new head coach and general manager, it could be time to hit the reset button on the roster. And when speaking to reporters on Wednesday, team owner Arthur Blank said that no players would be “off limits” in potential trade discussions; that includes Julio Jones (and quarterback Matt Ryan, for what it’s worth).
As Jones is set to turn 32 years old in February, it figures that Atlanta may look to trade him to get draft capital in return that would further a rebuilding effort under a new regime. Though he’s on the wrong side of 30, a healthy Jones has proven to be a highly valuable commodity for an offense. Subsequently, there should be no shortage of suitors for his services.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five NFL teams that should explore a Julio Jones trade with the Falcons in the 2021 offseason.
Julio Jones trade landing spot No. 5: New York Jets
At the conclusion of a 2-14 season and with Adam Gase now fired, the future of the New York Jets offense remains in doubt, specifically at the quarterback position. There is a largely held belief that the team will look to move on from quarterback Sam Darnold this offseason and that the franchise could use the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft on a quarterback.
No matter who is lining up under center for Gang Green, however, they need better weapons at their disposal in the passing attack. Denzel Mims flashes as a second-round rookie but struggled to stay on the field. Jamison Crowder is a fantastic slot weapon but not necessarily a go-to player. And the overall group simply leaves a lot to be desired.
Jones would immediately change the infrastructure of the Jets offense. That unit has been devoid of a playmaker of the wide receiver’s caliber for quite some time. Moreover, New York has two first-round picks in 2021 at their disposal, arming them with the draft capital that would likely be necessary to get a blockbuster trade done.
The big question would be if New York would want to use one of those picks on Jones. The answer would likely come down to their belief in whoever is at quarterback and how much of a difference a head coaching change could make. But at least on paper, the Jets make sense as a landing spot for Jones.