Wednesday update: The deal is official, per Field Yates. Tennessee trades a 2022 second round pick and a conditional 2023 fourth round pick. Atlanta trades Julio Jones and a 2023 sixth round pick.
The Atlanta Falcons are trading superstar wide receiver Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans as soon as this week. ESPN’s Dianna Russini is reporting the deal will get done in the next 24-48 hours barring any setbacks and the two sides are finalizing compensation. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting the deal would include “at least a 2nd round pick.”
UPDATE: Albert Breer is reporting the Titans are trading “their 2022 second round pick and something else to the Falcons.”
Last season, Jones played in nine games as a hamstring issue cost him time throughout the year. He finished with 51 receptions for 771 yards and three touchdowns. He had never missed more than two games in the previous six seasons and never finished with less than 1,394 receiving yards in that stretch.
Jones joins a Titans depth chart that is led by A.J. Brown and has been looking for a replacement for the now departed Corey Davis. Add in the departure of tight end Jonnu Smith who was third on the team in receiving and Ryan Tannehill was in need of another weapon.
Jones has been looking to leave Atlanta this offseason and while he is on the wrong side of 30, if he can stay healthy he can likely remain one of the best pass catchers in the league for at least one more year. He is due $15,300,000 in base salary this season and is signed through 2023.
Prior to the trade, the Titans had Super Bowl odds of +4000 at DraftKings Sportsbook and are now +2500. Their AFC title odds were +1800 and are now +1200. Their divisional odds were +130 — second to the -106 Colts — and both the Titans and Colts are now +110. Prior to the trade, their win total was installed at 9 with the over and under both priced at -110.