Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that contract negotiations between the Falcons and WR Julio Jones are just beginning and “very preliminary” as of now.
“Julio Jones stepped on the field today and said that his agent Jimmy Sexton has been talking to members of the Falcons’ brass,” Rapoport said of the contract talks. “Essentially negotiations are just beginning, very preliminary, but of course it is a no-brainer for the Falcons that they want to do a deal to lock Julio Jones up long term.”
Jason Cole of B/R recently reported that Jones and Bengals WR A.J. Green are looking to “reset the market” for receivers, and best the contracts signed by Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas.
Thomas and Bryant walked away $14 million per year in their new agreements, but Cole mentions that Green and Jones have their sights set on $15 million or more.
Jones has said previously that he wouldn’t hold out for a new contract.
“I’m not going to hold out for anything,” Jones said a month ago. “My teammates need me. I’m being selfish if I’m not here and doing what I need to do.”
Jones, 26, finished out his four-year, $16.183 million rookie contract, but the Falcons protected themselves by picking up his fifth-year option that will pay him a non-guaranteed salary of $10.176 million for the 2015 season.
In 2014, Jones caught 104 passes for 1,593 yards receiving and six touchdowns over the course of 15 games. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 6 receiver out of 110 qualifying players this past season.
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