There's Reportedly Now a 'Better Than 50-50' Chance Julio Jones Gets Traded

Even though Julio Jones remains an Atlanta Falcon following the NFL Draft, at least one NFL insider believes it's no less likely he'll be traded before the team reports for training camp. Peter King said on his podcast he expects it's more likely than not that the Falcons will trade Jones due to their unbelievably horrific salary cap situation.

The Peter King Podcast — “The one other thing I left there with is that I don’t think because Julio Jones wasn’t traded on draft weekend, I don’t think that means that he won’t be traded,” King said. “And in fact, I’d say it’s better than 50-50 that he will be traded before training camp begins.

“The reason is, obviously the Falcons are basically in cap jail right now, and they could clear an awful lot of space by trading Julio Jones June 2 or after. Meaning they could separate his cap hit into two years, instead of taking it all now. So, that’s why I still think there’s a good chance he’s gonna get traded.”

This was my only hesitation with taking Kyle Pitts — who I think might end up being the best player in the 2021 class — fourth overall. Obviously you're getting an outstanding player, but if you're just replacing one of the best receivers of this century with a tight end that you hope can put up remotely similar production, I don't see how that's making a team which was bad enough to be picking fourth that much better.

I don't know that it's even possible at this point given where the Falcons sit with their cap situation — and that is seemingly the only thing facilitating these trade talks — but we all deserve to see at least one season of Jones, Pitts, Calvin Ridley and Hayden Hurst on the field together. I can't guarantee Atlanta will be able to prevent its opponents from scoring 40 points, but I can promise you it will score 35 and let the chips fall where they may.

Unfortunately, signs seem to be pointing to a reality in which Jones has played his last game as a Falcon. And if that's the case, I'm trying to prepare myself so I won't lose it when it actually happens, but I still probably will. This sucks.