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2018 NFL Holdouts: Who Will Crack and Who Could Persist?

By Erik Lambert

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 08: Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders lines up to rush the quarterback during their NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 8, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 08: Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders lines up to rush the quarterback during their NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 8, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Falcons:  Julio Jones

He’s either the best wide receiver in football or the second-best depending on who you ask. Either way, Julio Jones is a freak of nature that defenses have to forge entire game plans to try and stop.  He’s not getting paid like it though. Currently eight wide receivers are getting paid more money per year than him. This includes Davante Adams, Jarvis Landry, Sammy Watkins and Brandin Cooks who simply aren’t on his level. Is it really a surprise he wants to rectify that situation? He certainly earned it.

Likely result:  Crack

Unfortunately, negotiations are a game of leverage. While Jones is a stud, his position was weakened when the Falcons drafted Calvin Ridley in the 1st round back in April. So even if he decided to stick it out, odds are Atlanta would still be relatively effective on offense without him. It’s unlikely he’ll try to force a trade. So he’d have to hope Thomas Dimitroff caves under the pressure, and that’s unlikely to happen.

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