The NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching on Nov. 3, and one star who could be on the move is Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones. If Atlanta looks to move Jones, the Green Bay Packers would be his ideal landing spot.
Jones, 31, is part of an Atlanta team that started the season 0-5, which led to the firing of head coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff.
The Falcons finally got their first win of the season in Week 6, a 40-23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
But Atlanta still sits at 1-5, and, barring a miraculous turnaround, the Falcons figure to have a high pick in the 2021 draft.
Atlanta could get a head start on planning for the future by moving Jones at the trade deadline, and the Packers should take advantage of the opportunity if it arises.
Let’s take a look at a deal that would send Jones to Green Bay, and analyze why both teams should do it.
The Hypothetical Trade
Packers acquire Julio Jones
Falcons acquire 2021 first round pick, 2022 fourth round pick
This trade sees the Packers go all-in on Jones and his future contract, pairing one of the best receivers in the league with one of the best quarterbacks in the league, in Aaron Rodgers.
To part with Jones, Atlanta recoups two picks, Green Bay’s first round pick in 2021, and a fourth round pick in 2022.
If this trade were to happen, the latter pick could be conditional, as if often the case in NFL trades.
Let’s take a look at why this trade could work for both teams.
Why the Packers Should Do It
The Packers should’ve taken a receiver in the first round in 2020. Opinions on Jordan Love aside, Green Bay owed it to Rodgers to give him another weapon.
And that was before Devin Funchess opted out of the season, and Davante Adams and Allen Lazard suffered injuries.
Adams returned this week against the Buccaneers, but the Packers could undoubtedly use additional depth at receiver.
Acquiring a star such as Jones would be an ideal move to show Rodgers that Green Bay is just as concerned about the present as they are the future, after selecting Love in the first round.
Jones is under contract through 2023, and Rodgers figures to play at least that long, provided of course that he remains healthy.
Why the Falcons Should Do It
When a team fires its head coach and its GM in one clean sweep, as Arthur Blank and the Falcons did, it means huge changes are on the horizon.
Atlanta is headed for a rebuild, and they could lean into it heavily by trading Jones now and recouping picks while Jones’ trade value is still high.
As of now, Julio Jones has the highest cap-hit on Atlanta’s payroll for both 2020 and 2021. Moving him would help create some space for future moves, as Atlanta shifts its focus toward the future.
The Falcons still have Calvin Ridley, who would become the undisputed focal point of their offense with Jones on the move.
Atlanta would probably find it difficult to part with Jones, who has been a Falcon since 2011. But it’s worth noting that Dimitroff had held his role since 2008, and Blank still dismissed him.
Jones is a fan favorite for good reason, but trading him over the next two weeks could go a long way toward helping Atlanta rebuild in the coming years.