Julio Jones: A New Falcons’ Deal in the Works?

The Atlanta Falcons organization and All-Pro WR Julio Jones have tried to reach a new contract agreement to keep Jones in Atlanta uniform for the long-term.

-= Atlanta Falcons: Confessions of a Fan on the Fence =-

Though Julio Jones has expressed his desires to not holdout or let these contract negotiations get in the way of the 2015 Season with the Atlanta Falcons, many have wondered if both parties can agree to terms before the season starts.  While I know that Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff doesn’t want to see Julio Jones leave the team after season via free agency when his rookie deal expires, Jones will command top dollar as an undisputed Top 5 wideout in the NFL.

Can both parties reach an agreement before the regular season commences?  I would like to think so.  According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons expect to close in on a new contract in the next few weeks to the amount of $15 Million annually.

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That would be a larger sum of annual cash than fellow top wideouts Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys and Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos earned in their deals: $14 Million per year.  It’s interesting as all three wideouts have the same agency representing them and one could expect both Bryant and Thomas to envy Julio Jones’ deal when it’s formalized.

To me, there are several reasons why Julio Jones stays with the Atlanta Falcons in their long-term plans.  First, Owner Arthur Blank will likely shell out the extra cash to keep Jones in Atlanta as Mr. Blank wants to fill all the seats in New Atlanta Stadium in 2017.

Being that Arthur Blank is building an architectural marvel next door the Georgia Dome where both his Atlanta Falcons and his expansion MLS franchise Atlanta United FC will play, I don’t expect Blank to let a top-flight talent like Julio Jones walk out the door.

-= Falcons All-Time Lists: Top 5 QBs =-

Thomas Dimitroff also won’t let this happen as he moved up in the 2011 NFL Draft to take Julio Jones 6th overall out of the University of Alabama.  Though the Cleveland Browns didn’t make wise decisions with the picks they received from the Atlanta Falcons (Brandon Weeden), the investment Dimitroff made in Jones can’t get overlooked.  Looking at the last two seasons, perhaps the Dirty Birds could have used 3rd or 4th year veteran from the middle rounds of the 2011-12 NFL Drafts.

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Lastly, I believe that Julio Jones wants to stay in Atlanta.  He’s from the Southeast, has a Top 10 QB throwing him catchable balls in Pro Bowler Matt Ryan, and his mentor WR Roddy White is still a major contributor in the Atlanta Falcons passing attack.  By bringing in a high-energy leader in new Head Coach Dan Quinn, the Atlanta Falcons could get back to playing playoff contending football in the next season or two.

Though it will be expensive, I expect the Julio Jones deal to come to fruition before the start of the 2015 Regular Season.  Timing is everything and I’m glad that Thomas Dimitroff and Arthur Blank made a smart move by extending Matt Ryan when they did, as he enters Year Three of the five-year deal as the Atlanta Falcons franchise passer.

Next: Dan Quinn: This Is Not a Rebuild in Any Way

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