Falcons “Hopeful” To Get Deal Done With Julio Jones

Update:

Chris Mortensen reports that Julio Jones and the Falcons are working “intensively” to resolve their contract differences and hope to prevent Jones from holing out of training camp.

Mortensen adds that the two sides are attempting to “creatively” address Jones’ ability to earn more than his $10.5 milllion base salary this season.

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Tiffany Blackmon reports that the Falcons are “hopeful” to get a deal done with WR Julio Jones and have been negotiating a contract “for a while.”

Blackmon adds that the two sides have both expressed their concerns over a deal and have a mutual understanding of each other’s “point of view.”

Yesterday, Chris Mortensen reported that Jones does not plan to report for the start of training camp on Thursday unless an adjustment is made to his contract.

According to Ian Rapoport, the Falcons have made clear to Jones they plan to restructure his contract next year, but that apparently isn’t enough to get him to report for the start of camp.

One option Rapoport mentions would be for the Falcons to rework his deal and move money up from a future year, which is something other teams have done with star players.

Another consideration for Atlanta is the fact that they made the decision to front-load his contract, which paid him $47 million over the first three years and explains why his remaining salaries are lower.

The Falcons are reportedly focused on addressing other players such as DT Grady Jarrett, LT Jake Matthews and S Ricardo Allen (NFLTR).

Jones, 29, is a former first-round pick of the Falcons back in 2011. He’s currently in the fourth year of his six-year, $81.432 million contract that includes $47 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $10.5 million and $12.5 million over the next two years of the agreement.

In 2017, Jones appeared in all 16 games for the Falcons and caught 88 passes for 1,444 yards receiving and three touchdowns. He also contributed 15 yards rushing on one carry. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 3 receiver out of 116 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Jones as the news is available.