Julio Jones will most likely be traded after June 1st, when his salary cap hit decreases. He said that he is going to be “out of there” when talking about Atlanta on live television. Here are the best landing spots for him, not in order.
San Francisco 49ers: If Julio wants a good shot at being a Super Bowl contender, this is a perfect place for him to go. He had his best season, having 136 receptions for 1871 yards, under current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, in the 2015-2016 season. The Niners have an elite defense along with one of the best, if not the best run scheme in the league. They also have great weapons in the passing game, like superstar tight end George Kittle and the young, promising wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Adding a top 5 wide receiver like Julio would make this offense one of the most formidable in the league, especially with dynamic rookie quarterback Trey Lance at the helm. Pair that with their stout defense, and you’re looking at a potential Super Bowl favorite.
New England Patriots: If you’re looking for a team with a winning culture, New England is the place to go. Playing under one of the greatest coaches of all time is certainly something that Julio would be looking for. The Patriots don’t have a star pass catcher, as they added solid, but not amazing, players in free agency, like Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, and Nelson Agholor. Though these players will help improve the Patriots abysmal passing game, they aren’t any who can be reliable every play. Julio Jones is the exact alpha wide receiver that the Patriots need, and pairing him up in the improved offense, under Bill Belichick, and with an elite unit on the other side of the ball, the Patriots could catapult themselves back up into Super Bowl contention.
Baltimore Ravens: Being among the worst in the passing game over the past few seasons, the Ravens could use some star power at the receiver position to help out quarterback Lamar Jackson. Even after drafting wide receiver Rashod Bateman with the 27th overall pick in the draft a month ago, the position is still a need, as former first round pick Marquise Brown has been severely underwhelming in his first two seasons. Adding Jones to this offense would not only help their passing attack, but would also open up their already top 3 rushing offense even more.
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts would be a great fit for Julio, due to their lack of a star pass catcher, with Michael Pittman Jr. and T.Y. Hilton as their top two. They have a phenomenal defense and a top 5 offensive line; however their passing game is a big question mark. Former MVP candidate Carson Wentz, who had a terrible season in 2020, could see a career revival under the same coach(Frank Reich) who helped him become a top quarterback in Philadelphia. This, paired with adding a top 5 receiver in the league, could put the Colts among the most formidable teams, on both sides of the ball, in the AFC.
Tennessee Titans: The Titans had one of the most exciting, explosive offenses in football last year, led by one of the most dominant players in the league, Derrick Henry, along with a top 10 receiver in A.J. Brown. After losing significant players in the passing game like Jonnu Smith, Corey Davis, and Adam Humphries, the Titans could use another reliable receiver to take the pressure off of Brown. Adding Jones could make this offense the best in the league, as defenders scramble to figure out who to focus on: the running back coming off a 2,000 yard season or the new best wide receiver duo in the league.
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