Rumors have been swirling for weeks about a potential trade involving Falcons’ All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones, but for salary cap purposes, nothing can happen until after June 1.
With June 1 now about a week away, trade rumors are again picking up and it sounds like a deal involving Jones is only a matter of time.
Jones told ESPN on Monday that he won’t be in Atlanta next year and that means the Falcons will probably end up taking the best offer they can get for him. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Falcons are looking for a first-round pick in return for Jones, but Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer thinks Atlanta will probably have to settle for a second-round pick.
The question now is… are the Raiders in the mix to trade for Jones?
League insider Benjamin Albright reported last month that the Raiders were in play for him, but is that still the case four weeks later?
Everyone knows Jon Gruden wouldn’t be intimidated by the idea of adding a 32 year-old wide receiver, but what about the $15+ million salary cap number that the Raiders currently can’t afford?
Maybe the idea of adding an elite receiver would push the Raiders to adjust a contract or two to make salary cap room for Jones. One way to clear cap space would be to extend Derek Carr’s contract which could easily open up another $10+ million in salary cap space.
Of course, there’s also the question of whether Jones would be interested in joining the Raiders. The location and taxes would be appealing, but entering a division with Patrick Mahomes (and potentially Aaron Rodgers?) certainly wouldn’t be his path of least resistance to the playoffs.
twitter: @raidersbeat
Great receiver, with good years left if he stays healthy. Too much money. If they wait for Davante Adams to hit free agency next year that would be a much better solution. He and Carr know and like each other. Adams would be a great fit, if Ruggs and Edwards don’t step up big time in 2021.
As much as I would love to have an all-time receiver like Jones it wouldn’t make sense for the us (RAIDERS) right now. Besides the salary cap issue and the probable 2nd round draft pick it will stunt the growth of Edwards and Ruggs who need to get all the targets they can. If they struggle this year then maybe we can target davonte Adams next year in free agency. At a certain point an Offense can have too many weapons . That’s why I’m kinda glad agholor outpriced himself we need our investment into the sophomores to start paying off….go RAIDERS
Once again the raiderbeatdown has zero information about the Raiders being interested in Julio Jones. This is just like the crap you keep throwing out how Carr’s being traded, it’s nothing more than a wish list of every big named player that gets cut, put in jail, throws a fit, won’t play. ….. they all have one thing in common there all reported to be coming to the Raiders. So just how many times has your wish player ever signed with the Raiders?
I don’t understand how so called reporters get everything wrong and still remain employed. I will go to the Raiders home page and get there phone number for you, maybe than you can talk to the janitor that way you can feel like a real reporter and have someone on the inside.
I think the Raiders are not in a position to go after Jones, have the right team that adding Jones would equate to elevating chances to go to superbowl let alone make impact in play-offs (if they made play-offs). The downside to this potential deal (if Jones would even consider Raiders as option) is more devastating than people realize.
Let me begin by saying this; Gruden in interview after last season made many comments of how the Raiders (after saying there were games team should have won but failing to acknowledge that there were gmes team should have lost or the game Gruden personally lost n other he almost personally caused loss to) are so very close i.e, like a player or couple of plays away from being a team ready to do something.
His statements were so true that he proceeded to dismantle the team and just about has entirely different team. That is far from indicative of a team as close as he portrayed to the media in interview. Think about the fact that since Gruden’s return we have witnessed a substantial player turnover each season. Not only is this nt the type of continuity that good teams go through but also sends message to the players in league that the franchise is in turmoil and lack proper leadership and direction. I understand that Jones doesn’t have no-trade clause so Falcons dictate team he goes to, but would be surprised if Falcons would not try and allow Jones to have some say-so in his destination being as he has given them a lot of great play for many years. If that is the case, I would be very surprised if Jones would desire to play for dysfunctional organization like Raiders.
Let us remember that Gruden has shown poor character traits that players respect since returning. Gruden has lied constantly to players, fans, and media, committed acts that display lack of loyalty to players, has shown a lack of ability to make in-game adjustments (or have tam prepared properly each week), and clearly lacks ability to evaluate players both in draft and in free agency. These types of things have led to players only considering signing with Raiders if overpaid for services and receive a lot in guaranteed (upfront money). We have seen several players (the upper skilled players) flat out sign with other teams in free agency even though Raiders offered more.
What Gruden did to and with Mack situation and then other good players Raiders had contain rippl effects that a lot of people overlook. Just Mack alone when everyone evaluated who won trade and continue to do so I never see the hidden value that Mack brought to the table and by which Raiders will not remedy for some time to come. Jones is in the Mack typ category and to believe a player of that caliber would not consider the things that have occurred with Gruden and his control of team in deciding if they wish to play would be folish and would never occur so the chances that Jones ever suits up for Raiders is not only hunorous but adds to state of this current organizations dysfunctionality at this point in time.
Finally, obviously for Raiders to pull it off (if we delusionally thought it a genuine possibility) they would have to make more cuts or restructure contracts of other players (notably Carr who would probably make the sacrifice showing again his commitment n loyalty to this dysfunctional organization). Another horrible trait Gruden has shown since returning – he will cut players or ask players that have been part of organizatin n earned their money to take cuts, restructure, make sacrifices so someone who hasn’t been part of the team can come aboard and receive all the money they want and believe they deserve. How do you expect players to give you their hearts, their everything when you are willing to toss them aside at drop of a hat.
My opinion Mark Davis really f**ked up when he allowed some weird infatuation interfere in business. Raiders were finally removing the bad from their horrible stretch of poor play and coaching only to have worst owner in history (whose father was arguably one of the best owners in history) throw it all away displaying inconsideration, disrespect, disloyalty, and disregard for the fans and players that were part of the process that saw them at the precipice of turning corner regaining the respect that made them at one time the winningest team in all sports.