Atlanta Falcons Sign Julio Jones to Five-Year Extension
Falcon’s owner Arthur Blank said he wanted to make Julio Jones a Falcon for life, at it appears they have done so. According to Peter King of Sports Illustrated, the Atlanta Falcons have reached an extension with 26-year old wide receiver Julio Jones.
"“We could not be more thrilled to make Julio a Falcon for life,” said Falcons Owner and Chairman Arthur Blank. “Julio has established himself as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL during his career and has already set the franchise record for receiving yards in a season. I am extremely proud of what he has accomplished and he has just begun to scratch the surface in terms of his potential.”"
The parties had previously set a deadline for the end of today, and have apparently managed to come to a deal. King reports that the contract will extend Jones’s tenure with the Falcons for another five seasons.
The Falcons have reached a five-year agreement with Julio Jones on a contract extension, per source.
— Peter King (@peter_king) August 29, 2015
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the financial of Jones’s deal, with is reportedly more than $71 million dollars. Schefter also says that $47.5 million is guaranteed. The total money lands him second overall in wide receiver contracts behind Calvin Johnson’s $113 million deal, as well as in guaranteed money.
Falcons' WR Julio Jones will receive $47.5 million guaranteed and $71.25 million over five years, per @mortreport.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 29, 2015
A building piece for a team in some ways “stuck in the middle”, Jones has been an electrifying force for the Atlanta Falcons. Drafted out of Alabama in 2011 with the sixth overall pick, Jones has quickly become one of the best receivers in the NFL. In his four seasons with the Falcons, Jones has over 4,300 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns. Last season he set the Falcons All-time Single Season Record in receiving yards with 1,593.
That moment when Arthur Blank gives you the big news #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/07Ay4GvnyT
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 29, 2015
The Falcons are in someways rebuilding, someways contending for the division this season. They restocked the defense with guys like Vic Beasley and Jalen Collins, while bringing in some young offensive weapons such as Tevin Coleman and Justin Hardy. First year head coach Dan Quinn was most arguably the biggest acquisition of the year, coming over from Seattle.