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If you were hoping the Tennessee Titans would land Atlanta Falcons star receiver Julio Jones, who is rumored to be available via trade, you might want to temper your expectations despite the team’s need at the position.
In a recent appearance on Buck Reising’s midday show on 104.5 The Zone, ESPN’s Dianna Russini, who is pretty connected to all things Titans, says she doesn’t believe Tennessee is in on Jones and hasn’t heard anything to that effect (H/T Jack Gentry of A to Z Sports Nashville).
“Do I think the Titans are in the Julio Jones business? No,” Russini said. “No one has told me the Titans are interested in Julio Jones. I have not heard any of that, but I know the gossip mill will run with it.”
While on the surface a trade for Jones makes all the sense in the world for the receiver-needy Titans, it would be a difficult maneuver for general manager Jon Robinson to pull off.
For starters, the Titans would have to give up a draft pick, which could be as high as a first or second- round selection according to some speculation out there.
Tennessee would then have to pay Jones $15.3 million in 2021, and then $11.5 million in 2022 and 2023, which will be impossible for Tennessee to pull off without restructuring some contracts first.
However, Robinson has said that the team is “working through” some restructures to free up more money, so there is hope on that front.
Even if the Titans check that box, Jones comes as an expensive risk. Not only is he north of 30, but the seven-time Pro Bowler is coming off a season in which he played in just nine games due to injury.
Putting that aside, Jones has played through several injuries during his career, and that issue doesn’t figure to get better in 2021 and beyond.
As much as we love the idea of combining Jones with A.J. Brown and the rest of the Titans’ offense, a trade for the future Hall-of-Famer doesn’t appear likely.
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