Seahawks Have Discussed Trade For Julio Jones

Dianna Russini of ESPN reports that the Seahawks have had discussions about a potential trade for Falcons WR Julio Jones. 

According to Russini, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and Jones have spoken to discuss the possibility of playing together.

Jones would give Seattle one of the best receiver groups in the NFL that also includes D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett among others. 

Reports have said that 49ers, Titans, Patriots, Rams and Ravens are teams to watch for Jones.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk mentioned earlier in the day that the current expectation in league circles is that the Falcons will eventually trade Jones to the Titans for a second-round pick. However, Florio explained that this doesn’t mean that Tennessee has offered Atlanta a second-round pick or that they will accept a second-rounder for Jones. This is just the expectation of the sources he’s spoken with around the league.

The Falcons are looking for a first-round pick in return for Jones. Although, many have said that Atlanta would likely have to include a mid-round pick such as a second-rounder in order to get a first for Jones. 

Jones’ $15.3 million base salary for 2021 is a major obstacle for any interested teams to take on. Atlanta must wait until after June 1 to officially trade Jones due to salary cap reasons. 

According to Over The Cap, the Falcons would incur a dead money hit of $23.25 million for trading Jones before June 1, but only $7.75 million in dead money for a trade after that date, as well as $15.3 million in cap savings. 

Jones, 32, is a former first-round pick of the Falcons back in 2011. He was in the fifth year of his six-year, $81.432 million contract that includes $47 million guaranteed when he agreed to a three-year, $66 million fully guaranteed contract extension in 2019. 

In 2020, Jones appeared in nine games for the Falcons and caught 51 passes for 771 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

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