Will Julio Jones get one last shot at a Super Bowl ring?
Wide receiver Julio Jones finds himself among the shuffle of free agents assessing his options this offseason.
Jones, who will be now entering his 13th NFL season this September, officially became a free agent in mid-February following a one-year stint in Tampa Bay. There has been no indication yet about what his next intentions are, but the seven-time Pro Bowler still has enough to offer any team looking for a veteran presence in their WR outfit.
A Falcons icon
Jones is synonymous with the Atlanta Falcons, and for good reason too. Among several other accolades, Alabama-born Jones holds the franchise records for most receptions (848), receiving yards (12,896) and is tied second for touchdowns (61).
The Alabama-born star developed his craft playing for his home-state Crimson Tide. In his closing season in 2010 he notched up 1,133 receiving yards, finishing his time there with eight career 100-yard receiving games. He gained further attention at the 2011 NFL Combine where – with a fractured foot – he recorded a 4.39-second 40-yard dash (the third-fastest among WRs) and the longest jump of 11’3″.
Jones was selected by Atlanta in that year’s draft, taken sixth overall. In his first season, then based out of the Georgia Dome, he totalled 959 receiving yards from 54 receptions. His size, agility and control resulted in an impressive eight touchdowns, the most of any rookie that season. Jones had arrived. He would progress those numbers the following season and started the following 2013 season strongly until a foot fracture ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
The 2016 season saw Jones reach Super Bowl LI with the Falcons. In week 4 of said campaign, he and QB Matt Ryan had a noteworthy big game, with Ryan making 503 passing yards, of which 300 were netted by Jones who also had a touchdown. In the NFC Championship game, Jones bagged 2 touchdowns from 180 yards. His only Super Bowl appearance followed, losing 34-28 to the Patriots who staged a famous comeback to win in overtime.
The following year the Falcons reached the NFC Championship game again, which to date is the last time they qualified for the playoffs. In 2019, Jones signed a three-year $66 million contract, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the league at the time. In that season, he received for over 1,000 yards for the seventh time in his career.
But Jones’s 2020 was hampered by repeating hamstring damage. Frustration and three losing seasons would see Jones look to find another team in order to chase his aspirations. After ten seasons with the Falcons and securing his place as their all-time career receiving yards leader, Jones was traded to the Titans.
Post-Atlanta
In his sole season in Tennessee, Jones clocked 434 yards from 31 receptions. He missed time with a hamstring injury and had one touchdown. Ultimately being cut by Tennessee in March 2022 stemmed from the correlation of his game availability and contract expense.
Four months later, Jones signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay, joining (a recently unretired) Tom Brady for what would be Brady’s swansong season. A partially torn PCL meant Jones only competed in eleven games (including postseason) as he did in Nashville, although he still delivered flashes of greatness. In the regular season he hit just shy of 300 yards, a career low, but in the inaugural NFL Munich game against the Seahawks, he received for 53 yards, over a sixth of his regular season total, which included a 31-yard touchdown.
Jones recorded his second touchdown for the Bucs in their Wild Card Round defeat to Dallas, with seven receptions for 74 yards. The narrative in the wake of the Bucs 31-14 loss to the Cowboys surrounded Dak Prescott’s performance and ambiguity over Brady’s future, whilst Jones’s performance was lost in the mix.
Jones officially became a free agent on 15 February. Unless he stays with the Buccaneers, and there is no suggestion of that at present, Jones may hunt out one last Super Bowl run or head back to Atlanta to hang up his cleats.
Potential options: Kansas City Chiefs
A turn under Andy Reid could provide that last-chance opportunity for him to return to a Super Bowl and earn a ring. WRs Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster are no longer Chiefs, having signed with the Jets and New England respectively. Meanwhile, the younger talent, such as Kadarius Toney might benefit from Jones’s experience.
San Francisco 49ers
Jones has previously been linked with the 49ers and heading to San Francisco would see him reunited with head coach Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan was formerly offensive coordinator in Atlanta, and part of the ensemble that reached the aforementioned Super Bowl LI. Expectations for the 49ers will mount as September approaches and they might present a comparable fit to the Chiefs for the two-time All Pro.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas are among the bookies favourites to land Jones, as they are for Odell Beckham Jr, so a pinch of salt should probably be taken as it is with any other unfounded offseason rumours. Jones would slot behind Cee Dee Lamb and recently signed Brandin Cooks from the Texans.
On a sidenote, Jones was tenuously connected to the Cowboys in the past; back in May 2021 he was snapped wearing a Cowboys sweater, a rumour swiftly put to bed days later.
“A former executive” suggests interest in Jones from the Jets. Aaron Rodgers intends to join the Jets and although talks are at a standstill, the four-time league MVP has a wishlist of playmakers he’d like to take east with him. Jones hasn’t been mentioned but may perhaps be a possibility.
New York Jets
Atlanta Falcons, or retirement?
A return to Atlanta shouldn’t be ruled out. Whether playing a role in getting them back into the playoffs, or a one-day contract to retire as a Falcon, a final run with The Dirty Birds could be a fitting way to tie up a Hall of Fame career.
At 34 years old, and injury woes aside, Jones can still very much bring something to the table, but where the two-time season receiving yards leader end ups next – or whether he wants to keep playing – is unclear.
Where he lands next will depend on how other free agent movements shake out, but wherever he lands may offer a last opportunity to win a Super Bowl or close out a legendary career.
