As the Falcons prepare for their season opener against the Steelers, one of the greatest players in franchise history is still a free agent. Julio Jones‘ fate may have been decided for him.
Similar to Matt Ryan, Jones probably wants to still play, but sometimes, the league retires a player before they decide they’ve had enough. That could be what’s happening with another Falcons great.
Ryan was traded to the Colts and was effectively pushed into the booth after just one season. The year before, Jones was traded to the Titans, but he was only there for one season before moving on to the Buccaneers and Eagles. Three teams in three years since leaving Atlanta.
In those three seasons, Jones appeared in 31 games, starting 19 of them and recording only 66 receptions for a little over 800 yards and six touchdowns. To say it was a disappointing end to a career would be an understatement.
Before his final year in Atlanta, Julio Jones earned All-Pro honors behind a 1,394-yard campaign. He literally went from the best receiver of the decade to a shell of himself, but that’s what can happen in this league.
There’s always a chance that the former Falcons star is picked up, but I can’t imagine he’ll be anything more than a fourth option in a receiver room. If that’s the only scenario where Julio Jones gets back into the league, I’d have to imagine he thinks hard about hanging his cleats up and calling it a career.
The Falcons will surely retire Julio Jones’ number shortly after he announces his retirement, and before long, he’ll be headed to Canton.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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