Julio Jones Says He Won’t Hold Out From Training Camp

In an interview with TMZ, Falcons WR Julio Jones says he’s not considering holding out from training camp as he seeks a new contract with Atlanta. 

“(Falcons owner Arthur) Blank gave us his word,” Jones said. “That’s golden.”

“His word is that it’s going to get done,” Jones added. “There’s no stress on my end. I’m not thinking about it. He makes it easy for me to go out and just work every day and not have one of those situations where there’s a holdout or anything like that.”

Jones held out briefly last year before the Falcons made a small adjustment to his contract. The team has previously expressed confidence that Jones will be signed to a long-term extension before training camp starts. 

Indications are that Jones and Saints WR Michael Thomas should reestablish the top-of-the-market salary for the receiver position once their new deals are done. Cleveland’s Odell Beckham is currently the highest-paid receiver in the NFL at $18 million per year.

Jones, 30, is a former first-round pick of the Falcons back in 2011. He’s currently in the fifth year of his six-year, $81.432 million contract that includes $47 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $12.5 million for the 2019 season.

The Falcons adjusted Jones’ contract last year to pay him an additional $2.9 million in 2018 and included a $4.4 million signing bonus.

In 2018, Jones appeared in all 16 games for the Falcons and caught 113 passes for 1,677 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.

We’ll have more regarding a new deal for Jones as the news is available.