Landing Spots for Julio Jones
Where will the superstar receiver play in 2021?
The NFL offseason never fails to bring news. And there’s not much bigger news than Julio Jones saying he’s out of Atlanta. Couple that with the Falcons appearing to be open to moving their superstar and we have a real story. So where will Julio Jones end up? Below I will name the four teams most likely to deal for the star receiver. This list isn’t going to include teams like the Jaguars and Jets simply due to the respective timelines in terms of winning. Julio’s age doesn’t line up with their rebuilds, even if both franchises have ample cap space. So let’s begin.
4. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts make sense as a fit for multiple reasons. The first being the team lacks a true number one receiver. T.Y. Hilton and Michael Pittman Jr. are solid options, but neither bring fear to a defense like Julio Jones would. The second reason being the new quarterback in town. Carson Wentz is coming off his worst season as a pro. What better way to boost his play then by giving him one of the best receivers of this generation. Now Indianapolis would have to make a couple of moves to be able to acquire Jones cap wise. The good news is they’re only about $1 million away so it’s definitely possible.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
Initially the Chargers may not come to mind when thinking of teams that will trade for Julio. I mean after all Los Angeles finished with the sixth-most passing yards per game last season. But that doesn’t mean there’s not a spot for another star receiver. LA actually makes a ton of sense for Jones. Justin Herbert proved last season he can have the Chargers in win now mode. Not to mention after Keenan Allen, LA’s receivers are shaky. Mike Williams is solid but has an injury history. Pair that with the loss of Hunter Henry, and Los Angeles could certainly work for Julio. With Allen in the slot and Jones on the outside, Herbert and company would be one of the league’s most dangerous offenses. LA is also one of the few teams that wouldn’t have to make any cap moves to acquire Jones. Keep an eye on the Chargers come June 1st.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Everyone knows the Baltimore Ravens’ weakness. It’s their receivers. Besides that, this team is a serious Super Bowl contender. After finishing last in passing yards per game this past season, Baltimore knew they had to do something. They signed Sammy Watkins along with drafting Rashod Bateman in the first round of the draft. But Baltimore may not be finished. It has been reported the team is looking into a move for Julio Jones. This could take the Ravens over the top. Imagine going from Hollywood Brown, Willie Snead, Miles Boykin, and Devin Duvernay to Julio Jones, Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman, and Hollywood Brown. Now Baltimore would have to make some cap moves to acquire Jones. The payoff however, could be a Super Bowl. Opposing teams have never had to respect the outside pass due to Baltimore’s lack of receivers. Adding Jones would change that. The stud wideout would not only benefit the team’s pass offense, but their rushing offense as well. The Ravens’ rushing attack (which is already a headache to handle) would only improve based on Julio causing fewer eight man boxes. This seems like a perfect match. We’ll see if the salary cap causes it to fail.
- San Francisco 49ers
People may have forgotten about the 49ers. After a down season due to multiple injuries, San Francisco isn’t being talked about enough. This team was one overthrow away from a Super Bowl victory two seasons ago. And with everyone back and healthy, there is no team that wants to see the 49ers. While I already believe this is a Super Bowl contending roster, there is one way to boost those chances even more. His name is Julio Jones. San Francisco’s receivers aren’t bad by any means. Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are up and coming talents. But they aren’t true number one options yet. That’s where Julio comes in. Jones would take this offense over the top. I would go as far as to say they would be the team to beat (no disrespect to Tampa Bay but repeats are really difficult). The Niners also rank ahead of Baltimore on this list due to the cap situation. San Francisco wouldn’t have to make any cap moves to acquire Julio. There’s a reason they’re the betting favorite to land the star receiver. The rest of the league should be on notice.
