Julio Jones sat out offseason workouts in hopes of getting a new contract. The Atlanta Falcons will not acquiesce.
The Falcons are not planning to renegotiate the All-Pro receiver’s contract with three years left on the deal, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday, according to a source informed of the team’s thinking.
From last night on @TheAthleticATL: Jones won't get new deal, but Falcons hope he reports to camp https://t.co/qUHQfb0cEt
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) July 19, 2018
Jones enters the third year of a five-year, $71.25 million contract extension signed in 2015, which lasts through the 2020 season. With Jones under contract for three more seasons — and the team able to wield the franchise tag for two subsequent years — the Falcons are prioritizing extensions for players entering the final year of their contracts: DT Grady Jarrett, OT Jake Matthews and safety Ricardo Allen, per Rapoport.
With the news that the team won’t give Jones a pay raise, the question is whether the wideout will attend training camp when Falcons veterans report July 26. Rapoport notes that communication between Jones and the team has remained strong, but the Falcons still haven’t been informed about whether he will attend camp.
The man voted the No. 4 overall NFL player by his peers in NFL Network’s Top 100 players of 2018 is on a contract that averages $14.25 million per season, eighth highest among receivers. Without Jones the Falcons offense is pretty average. Let’s see how this plays out.
