WR Jones joins Titans’ powerful offense
Tennessee offense fourth in scoring in 2020
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans had been talking to the Atlanta Falcons about seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones for nearly three weeks.
In the end, they pried Jones loose with a couple of draft picks, the highest being a second-rounder.
“We felt like it was good value for us, and Atlanta felt like it was good value for them obviously or they wouldn’t have done the trade,” Titans general manager Jon Robinson said Sunday, hours after the teams announced the deal.
Robinson said Jones still must pass a physical, and the Titans have “some things we’ve still got to work through” with the salary cap.
The Titans GM also wouldn’t discuss if Jones, under contract through 2023, will be getting a revamped deal in the trade from the defending AFC South champs.
“We’re going to always keep that mindset of being diligent with our approach and aggressive when we feel like we need to be aggressive,” Robinson said.
The Falcons will receive the Titans’ second-round pick in 2022 and their fourth-rounder in 2023 with Atlanta sending Jones and a sixth-round pick in 2023.
Jones will join an offense than already has Derrick Henry, the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and a Pro Bowl receiver in A.J. Brown. The Titans ranked fourth in scoring in 2020, and this move shores up a big hole after losing wide receiver Corey Davis and tight end Jonnu Smith in free agency in March.
Robinson said his talks with Jones didn’t concern the number of passes Ryan Tannehill will throw his way. “His goal is to win,” Robinson said. Jones’ new teammates quickly endorsed the trade on social media.
“J Rob is a gangster!! The man is crushing it! Titans,” left tackle Taylor Lewan wrote of Robinson on Twitter. The Tennessee Titans’ GM wouldn’t discuss if Julio Jones, under contract through 2023, will be getting a revamped deal following his trade from Atlanta.
Tannehill’s answer was even shorter: “Let’s go !!!!! ”
Henry, who also played at Alabama in college like Jones, had recently shared photos of himself working out with Jones on social media.
Brown had been lobbying hard for Jones to join the Titans on social media, and Brown shared a photo on Twitter on Sunday of himself, Jones and Henry all in Tennessee jerseys celebrating.
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey also went to social media to express his feelings that his team missed out on Jones.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Jones’ place in franchise history is secure.
“Julio Jones will always be part of the Falcons story, having set numerous records and creating many great memories for all our fans, including me, since the day we drafted him,” Blank said.
The Falcons shared a video of
Jones on social media and wrote, “Because of you, 11 will always mean more.”
Jones holds Atlanta records with 848 catches for 12,896 yards, and his 60 touchdowns ranked second. He had a career-best 136 catches for 1,871 yards in 2015. He had six straight seasons with more than 1,300 yards receiving until being limited to nine games in 2020 by a nagging hamstring injury.