Jacksonville Jaguars need to sit Julio Jones sweepstakes out

The Jacksonville Jaguars have revamped their roster this offseason, adding both depth and a few playmakers in free agency. Their wide receiver corps certainly looks better after their offseason acquisitions but the team’s brass could still add an upper-echelon wideout before or during the 2021 Draft.

The Atlanta Falcons have received calls inquiring about the availability of wide receiver Julio Jones, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. The insider adds that teams can’t trade for the All-Pro until June 1, but believes a trade may be feasible due to the Falcons’ “brutal cap situation”.

Rapoport doesn’t specify which teams are interested in trading for Jones, but he should definitely have a list of potential suitors. After all, he’s one of the top wide receivers in the NFL and is still going strong after ten years in the league. Before missing seven games in 2020, he posted six straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and even last year, he caught 51 passes for 771 yards with three trips to the end zone and averaged 15.1 yards per reception.

A first-round pick in 2011, Jones has started 134 games and hauled in 848 receptions for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns. Moreover, he’s averaged 15.2 yards throughout his career and has earned seven Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro designations. The Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions could certainly use him, maybe the Las Vegas Raiders too, but how about the Jacksonville Jaguars?

Here’s why the Jacksonville Jaguars shouldn’t pick up the phone.

If you read the headline, you know where this is going. The Jaguars shouldn’t trade for Jones. There’s no indication they have inquired about his services nor that they are considering it, but either way, they should refrain from doing it. As good as the Alabama product is, this Jacksonville team signed Marvin Jones Jr., arguably their best addition this offseason, and their wide receiver corps is in good shape with DJ Chark Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr.

Jones could certainly help the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence, and every quarterback would like to throw passes to the veteran, but Jacksonville is not one difference-maker away from becoming a Super Bowl contender. He would be an unnecessary luxury on a team that is in the early stages of rebuilding.

Furthermore, the Jags would be on the hook for Jones’ hefty salary, which wouldn’t make sense after taking a conservative cap approach in free agency. The team’s brass opted not to chase big-name players in the open market and trading for the wide receiver would run counter to their offseason strategy.

Nobody will deny Jones is a fine receiver and might eventually be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nevertheless, the Jags should sit this one out.