Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Ravens have interest in trading for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones.
In the coming days and weeks, the Atlanta Falcons are expected to trade away the greatest player in franchise history in wide receiver Julio Jones.
Jones has spent his entire 10-year NFL career out of Alabama with the Falcons, who traded up to No. 6 to take him in the 2011 NFL Draft. All he did in 10 years with the Dirty Birds was put together a Pro Football Hall of Fame career. But now firmly on the wrong side of 30, Jones wants out because he wants to win. One team that could be interested in him is the Baltimore Ravens.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Ravens would be willing to trade for the perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver “if the price is right.” Are the Ravens willing to put this potential trade into motion? How much would they have to give up? Who are they competing with for his services this offseason?
Baltimore Ravens are interested in trading for Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones
From a schematic and roster standpoint, Jones would make a lot of sense in Baltimore. He would become the Ravens’ unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver. His versatile playmaking ability would make it next to impossible for him to not quickly develop a rapport with former NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Adding Jones would help make the Ravens a serious Super Bowl threat in 2021.
While Baltimore would be comfortable in giving up their 2022 first-round pick for Jones because the Ravens are banking on being in the AFC Playoffs anyway, they do not have the available salary cap to take on Jones’ $15.3 million base salary for 2021 presently. Though Baltimore is under the cap, the Ravens must make another additional move with about $11.6 million in available space.
Ultimately, the Ravens are one of the handful of teams who could seriously end up with Jones. He may prefer to go to other AFC-contending teams in the New England Patriots or the Tennessee Titans, but the Ravens give him just as much of a chance to win as the other two. Baltimore has traded with Atlanta before, as the Ravens got a second-round pick for tight end Hayden Hurst.
New England is still the favorite to land Jones, but Baltimore is very much in the mix for him.