Kyle Pitts Learns The Truth Of Being A Falcon
Farewell to Julio Jones. He goes (or is going, as of writing the deal is not done but in process) to the Tennessee Titans. Here’s the full deal as of now:
The #Titans deal for Julio Jones:
— 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.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2021
So a 2nd and a 4th for Julio and a 6th. For the Falcons’ sake, they better hope Julio isn’t as good anymore for real because that feels like robbery to me. The Titans get a superstar WR while their SB window is open. AJ Brown gets someone to take the pressure off him. Tannehill gets a supreme comfort blanket. The only thing that would make this bad is if last year wasn’t an injury anolamy and Julio just isn’t great anymore. Even if he isn’t great this is a good deal. The Titans get his big contract and the Falcons get out of some of their cap hell.
Well, Trae Young and the Hawks are kicking ass so I guess the universe had to balance itself to properly inflict pain on Atlanta fans.
The Falcons probably shouldn’t have taken a tight end 4th overall.
This was probably the best deal the Falcons were going to get for him. They couldn’t afford to pay him what he’s owed, so everyone knew this was a fire sale in what was already a relatively soft market. They couldn’t afford to take salary back in return for him, which limited their market even further. And because of the price Jones does command in trade, the team getting him is effectively committing to two years or an extension, even though they’re only obligated to one year plus $2M in guarantees. Put all that together, and there’s no way a wide receiver on the wrong side of 30, even a superstar, is worth more than a 2 in return.
It’s reported that he may want a new contract though, which throws a wrench right in the middle of that.
I mentioned that the team taking him would be committing to at least two years on his current contract or an extension.
Plus Julio accidentally showed that he wanted to get out of there, hurting the leverage the Falcons GM had.
The Falcons really didn’t have any leverage to begin with. All teams interested in Julio knew that Atlanta had to make a deal so they could sign their rookies.
What doesn’t make sense from the Titans’ perspective though, is that they just spent a 2 for the privilege of having 32 year old Julio Jones for (for now) 3 years at $38M with $17M guaranteed. They grabbed him to replace Corey Davis in their lineup. They could have kept Corey Davis for 3 years at $37.5M with $27M guaranteed without spending the 2, so why didn’t they just do that?
I just wonder, apparently Julio asked to get out before the draft.
I’m with you Dave, if you knew your X receiver was departing, I’d think Chase > Pitts in that case. Or, trying to trade away since you’re not winning a super bowl any time soon and beginning the rebuild.
I disagree about taking Pitts number 4. It was absolutely the best choice. He is not going to be used as a traditional tightens. He is the best pass catcher in the draft and reminds me a lot of Megatron. He is going to be a matchup nightmare. He will have 1000 yard seasons starting year one. But sniff what could have been with Julio lined up opposite to him
Exactly. There was even question of whether Pitts was even better than Lawrence. Of course, that’s just a hot take that’s wrong, but Pitts is still generational talent.
I don’t think the issue is with his talent or fit, but where the roster is as a whole. Drafting Pitts now says “We’re SB contenders”. That said, as constructed this team at best is 2nd place in the division and a 5-7 seed. Julio leaving and with Ryan’s age it seems like a rebuild is on the horizon and Pitts doesn’t seem to set them up well for that
That’s where your wrong Pitts is the sure thing. In the rebuild he will be worth way more than top 4 pick
Looks like Matt Ryan is channeling Baryshnikov
Nice Amazon joke
Question isn’t is Julio still good, he is. It is how much longer will he be.