For the longest time, it looked like Julio Jones was going to be playing with the Atlanta Falcons for his entire career. However, it recently emerged that the Falcons were open to taking calls regarding a potential trade for the seven-time Pro-Bowler after he requested to be moved.
Things took a turn on Monday when Fox Sports’ Undisputed host Shannon Sharpe called Jones on-air in the middle of the show to ask him about his situation. The wideout responded by saying that he’s “out of here” in reference to Atlanta, which only fuelled the speculation of where he could end up.
You can't really fault teams for taking a swing at Julio Jones. After all, it’s not every day that a five-time All-Pro wide receiver is on the trade market. Besides, Jones’ resume speaks for itself if there are any doubters out there. In 135 career games with the Falcons, he has made 848 receptions for 12,896 receiving yards and 60 touchdowns.
According to BetOnline, the New England Patriots (-105) and Tennessee Titans (+275) have the best odds to land Julio Jones. Last season was an extremely disappointing one for the Patriots. After dominating the NFL for nearly two decades, New England finished with a 7-9-0 record and is looking to rebound in 2021. Without a legitimate No. 1 wideout, it’ll be tough to get there, which is why Jones would make perfect sense to pair with Cam Newton or Mac Jones.
On the other hand, Tennessee looks like the second-likeliest landing spot for Julio Jones. Titans running back Derrick Henry already took to social media last week to try and lure the receiver to his team, telling him to “TITAN TF UP.” Considering how A.J. Brown is the team’s only legitimate receiver after Corey Davis left this offseason, they could use Jones’ presence to cement themselves as a top force in the AFC.
Julio Jones Odds: Most Likely Trade Destinations
Odds via BetOnline as of Tuesday, May 25
- New England Patriots (-105)
- Tennessee Titans (+275)
- Baltimore Ravens (+300)
- Miami Dolphins (+800)
- San Francisco 49ers (+900)
- Indianapolis Colts (+1000)
- Green Bay Packers (+1000)
Full odds list available at BetOnline.ag.
Ravens Are Contenders To Land WR
Julio Jones could potentially keep his streak of playing for bird teams alive if he’s acquired by the Baltimore Ravens (+300). There’s really no other way to put it: the Ravens desperately need a high-quality pass-catching option. While they brought in Sammy Watkins and rookie Rashod Bateman over the offseason to play with Marquise Brown, none of those players is a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL.
Considering how Baltimore had the fewest passing yards per game last season (171.9), it’s not unfathomable to see why the Ravens would want a guy like Jones to help improve their offense.
Dolphins Emerge as Potential Julio Jones Destination
The Miami Dolphins (+800) were one of the more surprising teams in 2020. After years of being disrespected, the Dolphins finished the season with a 10-6-0 record. If they want to take the next step in 2021, Julio Jones is the perfect piece to help them do that.
It’s not like the Dolphins don’t have any wide receivers, though. They have guys like DeVante Parker and Will Fuller IV, but neither player has proven to be a consistent top pass-catching option on an everyday basis. That’s why acquiring Jones could help them get to the next level. It’s not to say that he guarantees them a Super Bowl, but the fact is that the AFC is vulnerable for another contender to emerge. If the Dolphins want it to be them, trading for Jones would be a no-brainer.
