Julio Jones' wish has been granted, and A.J. Brown's heavy recruitment has paid off.
The Atlanta Falcons are trading the All-Pro wide receiver to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a second-round pick in 2022 and a fourth-round pick in 2023, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Falcons will also send a 2023 sixth-round pick to Tennessee, Rapoport adds.
The deal is now done. https://t.co/sOPXQOGVAw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2021
The #Titans deal for Julio Jones:
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2021
— The #Falcons get a 2022 2nd rounder and a 2023 4th rounder.
— The #Titans get Julio Jones & a 6th rounder in 2023.
— The #Titans take on Jones’ salary of $15.3M in 2021 and the rest of the deal.
— #Falcons have $7.75M in dead money this year.
It was reported last month that Jones preferred to be traded to either the Titans or New England Patriots.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday that the seven-time Pro Bowler wanted to play with a "big-armed QB that can deliver the deep ball." Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill certainly fits the bill.
Tannehill has found plenty of success over the years throwing the deep ball. On deep routes in 2019, he completed 30 of 53 passes for 865 yards, seven touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 134.6.
Jones reportedly requested a trade out of Atlanta earlier this offseason and confirmed he wouldn't be returning to the city during a phone call with FS1's Shannon Sharpe, saying, "I'm out of there."
The Falcons were reportedly initially seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Jones but lowered their asking price to a second-round selection in recent weeks.
Tannehill now has several intriguing options entering the 2021 season. Jones is a solid replacement for Corey Davis, who left in free agency, and he joins a receiving group that includes Brown, who led the team with more than 1,000 receiving yards last season.
Tennessee won the AFC South with an 11-5 record last season. However, the Titans lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round. With Jones on board for the foreseeable future, Mike Vrabel is hoping his squad will be able to make a deep playoff run.
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