5 Julio Jones trade candidates that would make major NFL waves

3. The Indianapolis Colts need a Julio Jones trade type of splash

Despite entering the 2021 offseason as one of the most capable teams in terms of spending in free agency, the Indianapolis Colts stayed the course they often have under general manager Chris Ballard in being quiet. This is a team that values keeping their own developed talent while also drafting well.

However, the one place where Indianapolis has been unafraid to get aggressive is on the trade market when there is perceived value. We saw this when they swooped in to swap with the 49ers and land DeForest Buckner and then again this offseason as the Colts picked up a distressed asset in Carson Wentz at a relatively modest price for a player who has played at an MVP level within the last five years.

Because the Falcons would only be trading Julio Jones due to the fact that their backs are against the wall with the salary cap and they have an exorbinantly expensive 32-year-old wide receiver on the books, this could be another opportunity for Ballard to get great value in a trade.

While the Colts offense hasn’t been a problem, the wide receiver room has long lacked a do-it-all No. 1 wide receiver. T.Y. Hilton is coming back and he remains a big-play threat while young Michael Pittman Jr. played well as a rookie and Parris Campbell can be a game-breaker if he stays healthy. But Jones would add a new element to the offense that ultimately makes all of those players more dangerous and, more importantly, gives Wentz an undeniable playmaker.