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June 6, 2021 By: Kevin Kissner

Atlanta Falcons trade Julio Jones to Tennessee Titans

The Atlanta Falcons are trading All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans, per Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network.

Sources: The #Falcons are trading All-Pro WR Julio Jones to the #Titans in exchange for at least a 2nd round pick. A blockbuster for Tennessee, who now gets the coveted big-play threat. And Atlanta ends up with very nice value.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2021

According to Rapoport, Atlanta will receive Tennessee’s 2022 2^nd-round pick and a 4^th-round pick in 2023. The Titans will also receive a 6^th-round pick in 2023 in return from Atlanta.

Full terms:
The #Falcons get a 2022 2nd round pick and Atlanta gets the titans 4 in 2023 and they give back their 6 in 2023.
The Titans get Julio Jones.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2021

The Titans will also take on Jones’ full salary of $15.3 million and the remainder of his contract that runs through 2023.

The #Titans deal for Julio Jones:
— The #Falcons get a 2022 2nd rounder and a 2023 4th rounder.
— The #Titans get Julio Jones & a 6th rounder in 2023.
— The #Titans take on Jones’ salary of $15.3M in 2021 and the rest of the deal.
— #Falcons have $7.75M in dead money this year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2021

Tennessee was looking to add another big-time playmaker on offense after losing tight end Jonnu Smith and wide receiver Corey Davis to free agency.

Atlanta is losing a key part of their offense, but they still have promising wide receiver Calvin Ridley and newly drafted tight end Kyle Pitts. The one good thing for the Falcons though is they now have the cap space to sign their draft class.

Jones’ contract is fully guaranteed this season and was going to cost Atlanta just over $23 million against the cap this season along with $19.2 million in the next two seasons. Since Jones was moved after June 1, that cap hit went down for Atlanta so that they only have to pay $7.7 million in dead money this year.

Jones played in just 9 games last season due to a strained hamstring, but still totaled 51 receptions for 771 yards and just three touchdowns. Prior to the 2020 season, Jones had six straight 1,300 yard seasons and averaged six touchdowns per season.

The future Hall of Famer had requested a trade before the draft, but Atlanta couldn’t get a deal done and needed to wait until after that June 1 deadline.

This deal is a win for everyone involved — Atlanta gets cap space back after they have been strapped over the last few years, Tennessee gets another elite weapon that they can afford, and Jones gets his wish to playing for a contender.