For Julio Jones, Titans agree to deal with Falcons

The Tennessee Titans agreed to a seven times Pro Bowl recipient, Julio Jones, agreement with Atlanta Falcons

NASHVILle (AP) — NASHVILLE, Tenn. Tennessee Titans had talked about the seven-time Julio Jones Pro Bowl broadband receptor with the Atlanta Falcons for almost three weeks.

They finally loosened Jones with a few draught picks, the highest being a second rounder.

“We thought it was good value for us, and Atlanta obviously thought it was good value for them, otherwise they wouldn't have done the trade,” Titans general manager Jon Robinson said hours after the teams announced the move.

Jones must still pass a physical, and the Titans have "some things we've still got to work through" with the salary cap, according to Robinson.

The Titans' general manager also refused to say whether Jones, who is under contract until 2023, will receive a new deal from the defending AFC South champions as part of the transaction.

“We're going to preserve that mindset of being cautious in our approach and aggressive when we need to be aggressive,” Robinson said.

The Titans will send their second-round pick in 2022 and their fourth-round pick in 2023 to the Falcons, while Atlanta will send Jones and a sixth-round pick in 2023 to the Titans.

Jones will join an offence that already includes A.J. Brown, the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and Derrick Henry, the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year. The Titans finished fourth in scoring in 2020, and this move fills a significant void left by the free agency departures of wide receiver Corey Davis and tight end Jonnu Smith in March.

Robinson stated that his discussions with Jones had nothing to do with the number of passes Ryan Tannehill will throw his way.

"His goal is to win," said Robinson.

On social media, Jones' new teammates quickly endorsed the trade.

“J Rob is a thug!! The man is killing it! “@Titans,” left tackle Taylor Lewan tweeted about Robinson.

Tannehill's response was even more succinct: "Let's go!!!!!"

Henry, who played at Alabama in college like Jones, had recently posted photos on social media of himself working out with Jones.

Brown had been pleading with Jones to join the Titans on social media, and on Sunday, he posted a photo on Twitter of himself, Jones, and Henry all wearing Tennessee jerseys to celebrate.

Jalen Ramsey of the Los Angeles Rams also took to social media to express his disappointment that his team did not sign Jones.

Arthur Blank, owner of Falcones, said that Jones has a secure place in franchise history.

"Julio Jones is always part of the Falcons storey and has recorded many records for all of our fans, including me, since the day that we drafted him, and created many great recollections; "Blank said that. Blank said.

"For almost half of the time I owned the Falcons, he was a part of our team. As both of you move into a different direction, I am deeply grateful for Julio's work for our team and for what he has meant in our city. In Tennessee and his entire life I wish him nothing but the best."

“Because of you, 11 will always mean more,” the Falcons tweeted on social media beside a video of Jones.

Jones' base pay of $15.3 million is guaranteed this season, and he was expected to cost the Falcons little more than $23 million next season under the salary cap. They split the dead money across two seasons by trading him after June 1, alleviating their financial condition.

And now the Titans have a wide receiver who will cost them less in 2021 than if they had taken up the Jets' fifth-year option for $15.6 million.

Jones holds the record for most catches in Atlanta with 848 for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns. In 2015, he set a new career high with 136 catches for 1,871 yards. He had six straight seasons of over 1,300 yards receiving before a persistent hamstring injury limited him to nine games in 2020.

Through 135 games, he has averaged 95.5 receiving yards per game, surpassing Calvin Johnson's record of 86.1 receiving yards per game.

Jones is also 20th in receiving yards and fourth in 100-yard receiving games with 58, trailing only Jerry Rice (76), Randy Moss (64) and Marvin Harrison (59). Among all NFL players with at least 848 catches, only Moss (15.6) has a higher average per reception (15.6) than Jones (15.2).

The Titans have won five straight games, trailing only Seattle and Kansas City in the NFL. In the 2019 season, they were defeated by Kansas City in the AFC championship game.

In 2020 Tennessee knocked Buffalo second, 396.4 yards per game and Tannehill threw up 33 touchdowns for the career. Only the Chiefs of the Kansas City were offensed more yards, but Jones could help a 23rd NFL offence at 228.3 yards per game.

This is Robinson's last great deal since he was hired in January 2016 as general manager.

Robinson traded the No. 1 overall pick in April 2016, and he also traded for Tannehill in March 2019 in a deal where Miami picked up a big chunk of the quarterback's salary.

Last year, Robinson and the team signed four-year contracts with Tannehill and Henry, the NFL's back-to-back rushing leaders.

Brown, the other key component of the Titans' offence, has two years remaining on his rookie contract.