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Kyle Pitts was still the right pick for Atlanta after trading Julio Jones

By Christopher Thomas

May 25, 2021; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) catches a pass during Falcons OTA at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2021; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) catches a pass during Falcons OTA at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 08: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 08: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Julio Jones Trade Breakdown

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport broke the news that the Atlanta Falcons will be trading Julio Jones to the Tennesee Titans. When news of a deal officially broke Rapoport reported that the Titans would be giving up “at least a second-round pick”. It was later reported that the full terms of the deal would be Jones and a 2023 sixth-round pick going to the Tennesee Titans for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick.

When the smoke cleared Rapoport reported that the Titans were the only team willing to give up a package of draft picks involving a second-round pick without conditions. He also reported that the Falcons wanted to get a deal done by the beginning of their training camp which begins June 8th. That was to ensure there were no holdouts or fines for Jones who requested a trade from the beginning of the offseason and was patient and respectable about it. By doing this the Falcons wanted to make sure everyone left on good terms and there was no bad blood.

Since Atlanta waited until after June 1st to trade Jones, they did not have to take on a massive dead cap hit of $23.25 million for trading Jones. The Falcons only took on a $7.75 million cap hit by trading Jones. While the Titans took on the $15.3 million that Jones is guaranteed in 2021 and the rest of his current deal. Atlanta needed that $15.3 million in cap space to sign their rookie draft picks this year. Before the trade, the Falcons only had $358,694 in available cap space according to NFLPA data.

It is fair to say that this trade was a fair value for both teams looking back at other blockbuster trades including star wide receivers that occurred in recent years. Last offseason, the Buffalo Bills acquired Stefon Diggs and a 2020 seventh-round pick from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2020 first-round pick (22nd overall), 2020 sixth-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-round pick.

Also last offseason, the Arizona Cardinals stole DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans giving up a 2020 second-round pick, 2021 fourth-round pick, and running back David Johnson for the All-Pro receiver and a 2020 fourth-round pick.

In 2019, the Cleveland Browns acquire Odell Beckham Jr. and defensive end Olivier Vernon from the New York Giants for a 2019 first-round pick (17th overall), 2019 third-round pick, guard Kevin Zeitler, and former first-round pick safety Jabrill Peppers. During the 2018-19 regular season the Dallas Cowboys traded their 2019 first-round pick (27th overall) for Amari Cooper.

Considering all of those deals it is fair to say that the Titans and Falcons got fair value for Jones. At this moment this is no clear winner of the deal. The argument for the Falcons winning the deal is that the draft pick compensation they received is similar to a late first-round pick and they did that by trading away a 32-year-old wide receiver coming off an injured season.

However, the upside of Julio Jones could make the Titans the winner of the deal. If Jones returns to 100% and can bring a similar impact to the Titans as he had in Atlanta he could boost them into the Super Bowl picture and make this trade look like a steal.

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