Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are seven logical trade destinations for Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones if he’s traded after June 1.
One thing we’re learning about new Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot is that he likes to keep us all guessing. The team’s lack of salary cap space has forced Atlanta to shop All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones. With trade rumors spreading like wildfire, let’s look at some potential landing spots that would make (some) sense.
Considering each team’s current roster, cap space and potential to contend, here are seven possible trade destinations for Jones after June 1.
The Jacksonville Jaguars franchise-tagged Yannick Ngakoue but there’s a strong possibility he gets traded to one of these teams.
Yannick Ngakoue was franchised by the Jacksonville Jaguars even though the player and team don’t seem to be getting along. Ngakoue even tweeted out a goodbye to the fans of Jacksonville. That didn’t stop the Jaguars from slapping the franchise tag on the defensive end.
We have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on @YannickNgakoue
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) March 13, 2020
If Ngakoue isn’t staying put and the Jaguars are franchising him with their current cap situation it means a trade is coming. Last year we saw three edge players get the tag and then get traded. Jadeveon Clowney, Dee Ford, and Frank Clark all ended up playing somewhere else. Ngakoue is just as good as the guys mentioned above. He has a Pro-Bowl and 37.5 sacks in four years. He’ll be 25 by the time the next season starts and is only entering his prime.
Let’s try and figure out where Ngakoue could end up.
Andy Dalton could be traded from the Bengals and there will be suitors like the Bears, Bucs, Jaguars and others.
It’s very odd to think that one of the biggest offseason quarterback dominoes that is going to fall is an eventual trade of Andy Dalton. There is no reason for Dalton and his $17 million dollar cap hit to stay in Cincinnati if the Bengals are going to draft Joe Burrow — and they are definitely taking the Heisman winner and national champion with the first pick.
There will be suitors of Dalton. For all the jokes about Dalton as a quarterback, the Dalton line — copyrighted by Around the NFL podcast — and the Bengals playoff record with Dalton under center, he’s a decent quarterback. He can’t win you a Super Bowl unless you have a ton of talent surrounding him, but he’s better than a lot of other options. If Ryan Tannehill can have a comeback season where the Titans are thinking about keeping the former Dolphins quarterback instead of making a run at Tom Brady, then anything is possible for Dalton.
The Bengals probably aren’t going to outright release him either since his $17 million cap hit is actually a pretty good number. Some team will be interested. Let’s take a guess at which ones may make the call.
