Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Falcons have a preference on where they would trade wide receiver Julio Jones.
With Julio Jones publicly saying he wants out of town on FS1’s Undisputed Monday, the Atlanta Falcons may be left with no choice in having to deal their greatest player in franchise history.
Jones had spent his entire 10-year NFL career in Atlanta after the Falcons traded up to No. 6 to take him in the 2011 NFL Draft. Though he was injured for a good part of last season, Jones is a perennial Pro Bowler and a future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. While the Falcons want a first-round pick for him, they may not be able to get that for him. They do hold all the cards here.
As for a potential trade partner, ESPN’s Adam Schefer believes Atlanta is prioritizing AFC teams.
Atlanta Falcons: What teams are best equipped to trade for Julio Jones?
Of the handful of teams best equipped to trade for Jones to begin with, most hail from the AFC. While this might be crushing to fans of the San Francisco 49ers, you had to know deep down you were at best a dark horse to get him anyway. Though new general manager Terry Fontenot may entertain offers from all 31 NFL teams right now, this will be a definitive move of his young career.
The two likeliest teams to get Jones would be the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. These two AFC contenders would be markedly better in the receiving corps, simply by Jones’ addition. Atlanta has made trades with these two organizations recently, albeit under a different front-office regime. Keep an eye on the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, too.
With multiple suitors for Jones, Fontenot has to get the best offer he possibly can for him or else.