Debate club: Should the Falcons cave to Julio Jones' contract demands?
Julio Jones has three years left on his contract, but that hasn't stopped him from demanding a new one.
How should the Atlanta Falcons proceed with the five-time Pro Bowl wideout? Let's debate:
Pay the man
The Falcons likely didn't envision this scenario when they signed their star playmaker to a five-year, $71.25-million extension in the summer of 2015. But three seasons in, Jones is unhappy with his deal, to the extent that it kept him away from the team's minicamp in June.
It's not hard to see why Jones has grown disheartened. While he was made the highest-paid receiver in the game upon signing his deal, he's since been surpassed by lesser players. Sammy Watkins and Jarvis Landry are among the seven wideouts that make more annually, and Allen Robinson isn't far off.
Yet, no matter how poor the timing of Jones' holdout, the Falcons would be wise to nip this in the bud before the season gets underway. Atlanta hopes to remain a contender in the uber-competitive NFC, and a return to the Super Bowl is predicated on having Jones in the lineup.
Julio was a force in the 2017 playoffs, catching nine balls in each of the Falcons' postseason contests, helping Atlanta come within two yards of defeating the eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round.
It certainly wouldn't hurt for the team to flatter its best player. The Pittsburgh Steelers restructured Antonio Brown's contract and the New England Patriots are in the midst of doing the same to keep Rob Gronkowski happy. Surely, the Falcons can find some middle ground in which Jones sees more guarantees and the team finds more cap room.
It would be in Atlanta's best interests to get a deal done with Jones before Odell Beckham Jr. resets the market at the position with the new contract he covets.
- Michael McClymont
Wait it out
As cruel as it may sound, the NFL is a business and it's simply not in the Falcons' best interest to shell out more money to a 29-year-old receiver with three years left on his deal.
As great as he is, Jones won't be able to sustain his current pace forever. Given his age and history of lower-body injuries, Atlanta has reason to believe his best days will soon be found in the rearview mirror, and guaranteeing him additional money down the road could later backfire.
After all, Jones isn't the only Falcon seeking a new deal. Left tackle Jake Matthews, defensive end Vic Beasley, and linebacker Deion Jones are among the younger core players scheduled to hit free agency before the disgruntled wideout, and none will come cheap.
The Falcons have an unwritten policy of not dishing out contract extensions with players who are multiple years away from free agency. If they didn't make an exception for franchise quarterback Matt Ryan, why should they treat Jones differently?
Even if Jones' holdout continues into the fall, there's no way he's going to skip a large portion of the regular season - three times over. And if he misses a few games in September, Atlanta has the offensive weapons to overcome it.
Obviously, keeping Jones happy and in Atlanta is ideal, but the Falcons would be unwise to overreact to his demands if it means hamstringing themselves in the future.
- Alex Chippin